How do I find out which caregiver shifts a home care agency struggles to fill?

Scheduling data tells the story if you ask the right questions. Request a record of every shift offered, when it was filled and who took it. Sort by weekends, evenings, overnights and long travel distances. Shifts offered repeatedly before anyone accepts them, or covered by overtime or the owner, are the ones that are hard.

Then speak with the people who do the scheduling. Coordinators can explain why a shift is hard, whether it is the hours, the client, the distance or the pay. Ask how many caregivers are casual rather than regular, how often they decline work and how quickly the agency finds replacements when someone calls in sick.

Consider the cost. Hard-to-fill shifts often mean overtime, missed visits and unhappy families. Ask whether any clients have left because of missed coverage. Check how much the owner covers personally, because that is work you would have to do or pay for. Your accountant can compare labour costs against revenue for the troublesome shifts. If the seller will allow it, ask a few caregivers what would make hard shifts easier, such as better pay, shorter travel or more notice. Their answers often point to affordable fixes, and they show you whether the team would stay on under new ownership.

Key takeaways

• Sort shift records by time, day and location.
• Ask coordinators why particular shifts stay open.
• Find out how much the owner covers personally.
• Look at overtime and missed-visit costs.