A new study from Massachusetts finds that supportive relationships between home health aides (HHAs), their agency office staff, and nurse supervisors can significantly boost job satisfaction and help reduce turnover in the growing home care workforce. The research shows that what matters most to HHAs isn’t just pay or scheduling — it’s having reliable, consistent support and clear communication from agencies and peers.

Home health aides often work independently in clients’ homes, which can lead to isolation and make traditional workplace support harder to deliver. Focus groups conducted with 37 aides across four agencies found that aides who felt emotionally supported, heard, and connected to their agency were more confident, engaged, and likely to stay in the job. Staff turnover among office personnel — even when pay and shifts remained constant — eroded aides’ sense of support and ultimately reduced retention.

“When my supervisor calls and checks in — asks how I’m doing, helps with scheduling, or just listens — I feel like I matter. That makes me want to stay.” — Home health aide, MA focus group

The study also highlighted the importance of peer connection. Regular communication among aides helped them cope with stress and feel less isolated — underscoring that agencies should consider building formal peer-support mechanisms, not just rely on supervisors.

With demand for home care expected to surge over the next decade, retaining experienced aides is critical to ensuring quality care and stability. The findings suggest that investing in consistent supervisory relationships, responsive office staffing, and peer-support structures isn’t just a “nice to have” — it’s a key retention strategy that supports both caregivers and clients.

Research Article: 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197457225005646?dgcid=coauthor

Key takeaways:

Emotional and practical support from office staff and nurse supervisors is the single strongest factor shaping aides’ job satisfaction and retention.

High turnover among agency staff — not just caregivers — undermines aides’ trust and sense of support.

Peer communication and connection among aides helps reduce isolation, stress, and burnout.

Agencies that prioritize consistent support are more likely to build a stable, satisfied home care workforce.

Call to Action for Agencies

Now is the time to strengthen your frontline support systems. Agencies are encouraged to evaluate supervisory consistency, improve communication workflows, and create structured peer-support opportunities for home health aides. Investing in emotional and practical support is not just a workforce initiative—it is a proven strategy to improve retention, reduce burnout, and stabilize care delivery.

About Home Care Alliance
Home Care Alliance (HCA) is a state-level nonprofit membership organization representing home care providers across Massachusetts and New England. We advocate for quality standards, regulatory clarity, professional networking and support, and workforce development — working to ensure that older adults and individuals needing long-term services and supports receive compassionate, high-quality care at home. For more information about membership or resources, visit https://www.thinkhomecare.org/join-now/

Researchers: 

1. Hayley P. Gleason
2.  Edward Alan Miller
3. Pamela Nadash