If you’ve tried to arrange home care for a loved one recently, you may have noticed something unsettling: it’s harder than it used to be. Agencies have fewer caregivers available. Wait times are longer. Some providers are turning families away entirely.

You’re not imagining it. The caregiver shortage is one of the most significant challenges facing American families right now — and it’s getting worse.

The numbers tell a stark story

According to the Home Care Association of America, more than half of home care agencies report ongoing staffing shortages. Caregiver turnover rates routinely hit 70–80% within the first 100 days of employment.

Meanwhile, the AARP reports that the number of family caregivers has jumped to 63 million Americans — a 45% increase over the past decade. These are spouses, adult children, and neighbors filling the gap that professional care can’t cover.

The demand side isn’t slowing down either. The U.S. home care workforce is projected to need over 6.1 million total job openings between 2024 and 2034, according to industry data.

Why caregivers leave

The root cause isn’t that people don’t want to do this work — it’s that the work is often undervalued. According to workforce studies, 59% of home care workers receive some form of public assistance. Fifteen percent live below the federal poverty level. When a caregiver can earn more at a retail store or warehouse with less physical and emotional demand, the math is hard to argue with.

At Lakeshore Helping Hands, we address this directly. We pay our caregivers fairly, provide consistent scheduling, and maintain a culture where caregivers feel seen and supported — not disposable. Our turnover is a fraction of the industry average, and that stability shows up in the quality of care our families receive.

What this means for families in Chicagoland

If you’re looking for home care in Lake, Cook, DuPage, or Kendall County, here’s practical advice:

Start early. Don’t wait for a crisis. The families who plan ahead have more options and better matches.

Ask about caregiver retention. Any agency can hire someone. Ask how long their caregivers stay. High turnover means your loved one gets a revolving door of strangers.

Look for owner-operated agencies. Franchises with high overhead often pay caregivers the least. Smaller agencies can reinvest in their people.

Don’t settle. A bad caregiver match is worse than no care at all. A good agency will replace someone quickly if the fit isn’t right — no questions, no penalties.

The bottom line

The shortage is real, and it’s not going away soon. But it doesn’t mean your family has to settle for mediocre care. It means choosing the right agency — one that invests in its caregivers — matters more than ever.

If you’re exploring options, a free consultation is the best place to start. We’ll tell you honestly what we can do, and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll point you somewhere that is.