You’ve done the research. You’ve dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s. You’ve finally found a reputable home provider, one you feel you can trust, and after signing all the papers, you can breathe a small sigh of relief. Finally, your loved one will get the support you need.

But then it starts. A new face shows up on Monday. Another one on Wednesday. The Health Care Aide (HCA) your mom just started to warm up to is suddenly gone, replaced by a stranger who doesn’t know her routine or even how she likes her tea.

Sound familiar? The constant churn of HCAs is a widespread problem, but it isn’t one you have to sit back and accept. The hidden truth about home care quality is that consistency is born from stability.

This problem is preventable. When a home care provider genuinely values its team, it creates a supportive environment that HCAs don’t want to leave. That loyalty and stability directly translate into better, more compassionate care for your family.

• The Problem with High HCA Turnover
• The Truth About Consistent Care
• What to Look for in a Home Care Provider
• They Hire for Heart
• They Support Growth
• They Build a Positive Culture
• They Value Every Voice
• How to Choose the Right Home Care Provider for Your Family
• Loyal Together for Better Care: The HeartNest Promise

Let’s get one thing out of the way: you’re not imagining this issue. The annual turnover rate for HCAs worldwide can be as high as nearly 80%, according to the Home Care Association of America.

This means that more than three-quarters of all professional HCAs either change roles or leave the profession entirely each year. That number is concerning enough for those of us within the profession, but for families, this statistic results in constant turnover that feels like a revolving door of strangers entering and exiting your loved one’s home.

Though it seems unavoidable, the problem is unacceptable. Your parent, who may already be struggling with memory issues or anxiety, now has to reintroduce themselves and explain their needs to a new face every few weeks. They have to rebuild trust from scratch, over and over again. It’s disruptive, exhausting, and, quite frankly, unfair. This constant change erodes the potential for a meaningful, relationship-based connection, which is the heart of excellent care.

So, why does this happen? Many agencies treat their HCAs as interchangeable cogs in a machine, focusing on filling shifts rather than building a dedicated team. When HCAs feel unsupported, unheard, and unappreciated, they burn out. They leave to find a workplace where they’re treated with the same dignity and respect they’re expected to give their clients.

This is the core issue that impacts families searching for a reliable home care provider, and it’s one HeartNest Care has worked hard to prevent.

High turnover is a symptom of a poor company culture, not a necessary evil of the industry. A home care provider that prioritizes its people sees dramatically lower turnover rates. They understand a simple, yet powerful, truth: you can’t pour from an empty cup. When HCAs feel supported, valued, and cared for, they bring their whole hearts to work.

Consistent HCAs mean better care, since they learn your loved one’s unique preferences, daily routines, and subtle personality quirks: in other words, everything that makes them, them. They know what makes your dad laugh and how to soothe your mom when she’s feeling anxious.

Relationship-based care also builds trust. Over time, a consistent HCA becomes more than just a daily helper and instead, is a trusted companion and extension of your family’s support system. This creates security and comfort for everyone involved.

This is our “Loyal Together” philosophy in action, a three-way partnership we hold near and dear to everything we do. When a provider is loyal to its HCAs, the HCAs can, in turn, be loyal to the families they serve. It may help to think of it as a chain of care: strong links between the home care provider, the HCA, and the family create unbreakable support you can count on.

When you’re choosing a home care provider, the most important question you can ask isn’t about their comprehensive services list. It’s this: how do you treat your Health Care Aides?

This is the single greatest predictor of the quality of care your family will receive. Culture flows downhill, after all, and a company that invests in its people creates a positive ripple effect that extends directly to your front door.

Here are some signs of a home care provider that truly values its team:

→ They Hire for Heart
Credentials and experience are important, sure, but they don’t tell the whole story. The best providers look beyond the resume to seek out people who lead with empathy, those who view caregiving as a calling and not just a job.

HeartNest Care prioritizes building a team of HCAs who have a genuine desire to connect with people and make a real difference in their lives.

→ They Support Growth
A great home care provider doesn’t just throw new HCAs into the field with a name badge and a “good luck.” Instead, they invest in their team’s success through comprehensive initial and ongoing training. This way, HCAs feel confident, capable, and prepared for any situation.

Look for providers that offer professional development and have systems in place to listen to HCA feedback. At HeartNest Care, we have regular feedback loops where HCAs have a real voice and where management acts on their concerns to improve the work environment for everyone.

At HeartNest Care, we don’t just talk about culture, we define it. Our six core values guide every interaction, from how we hire and train our team to how we show up for families every single day.

→ They Build a Positive Culture
A happy, engaged HCA provides better care. It really is that simple. Look for a home care provider that cultivates a positive, respectful, and collaborative workplace, both intentionally and organically.

Do they celebrate their team? Do they encourage teamwork? Even in our Code of Conduct at HeartNest Care, we explicitly detail how staff should be treated: with dignity, respect, connection, and care. Our philosophy, encouraging active listening and responding with compassion, applies just as much to our internal team interactions as it does to client care.

→ They Value Every Voice
The best ideas for improvement often come from those on the front lines. A provider that values its team involves HCAs in quality improvement and decision-making. They’re treated as partners, not just employees. HeartNest Care actively promotes a culture of quality improvement, encouraging HCAs to share their insights and help shape the future of the company.

You have the power to choose a provider that aligns with your values, so when you’re looking for a home provider in Calgary, don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions.

Not sure where to start? Lead with these:

• How do you support your Health Care Aides?
• What is your annual HCA turnover rate? Can you explain why it is what it is?
• What kind of ongoing training and professional development do you offer?
• How do you recognize and celebrate your team members?
• Do you offer bilingual HCAs to help with language matching?
• How do you ensure cultural sensitivity in your services?
• What levels of care do you provide, from companionship to nursing?

Watch out for red flags like evasive or non-answers, a lack of transparency about team support, or minimal training programs. These are often signs of a provider that doesn’t invest in its people, which can lead to the inconsistent care you’re trying so hard to avoid.

The secret to finding consistent, high-quality home care is really no secret at all. You’ve got to find a home care provider who is as dedicated to its team as it is to its clients. When HCAs are respected, supported, and well-trained, they can build the trusting, compassionate, and lasting relationships that every family deserves.

At HeartNest Care, we know that by creating an exceptional environment for our HCAs, we’re ensuring the exceptional quality home care Calgary families can depend on. Our low turnover rate isn’t an accident. It’s the direct result of our intentional commitment to our team.

Choose a provider that invests in its people. It’s the most reliable way to make sure your loved one receives the steady, relationship-based care they need.

At HeartNest Care, we’re loyal together, because we know that true care always starts with connection.

Ready to meet a team that values consistency as much as you do? Let’s start the conversation.