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Why 24/7 Hiring Hotlines Matter for Home Care Agencies

  • Writer: Sabrina Weyandt
    Sabrina Weyandt
  • Oct 8, 2025
  • 3 min read

Updated: Oct 23, 2025

Market Snapshot: Why Home Care Needs More Workers


The home care field is growing fast. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says jobs for home health and personal care aides are expected to grow 17% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than most other jobs. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics More people are aging and want to stay in their homes longer. That means home care agencies must hire more caregivers—and fast.

Challenges in Hiring Caregivers


High Turnover


Caregiver turnover is extremely high. Some reports show around 79% annual turnover, meaning most agencies must constantly recruit just to keep up. Source: Home Health Care News.


Missed Calls = Missed Opportunities


If a potential caregiver calls after hours and no one answers, that lead is often lost as they move on to the next agency. Agencies without 24/7 phone coverage miss 20–25% of calls with most of those calls falling on nights and weekends.


Each missed call means lost time, missed revenue, and fewer hires.



Example:

  • 80 candidate calls per month

  • 20% missed calls

  • $25 per lead recruiter cost


80 × 0.20 × $25 = $400/month in lost time and money. Reducing drop-offs with a 24/7 hotline could mean up to 16 additional hires each month.

How a 24/7 Hiring Hotline Works


1. Live Applicant Screening

  • Every call is answered by a trained agent—no voicemails or missed opportunities.

  • Agents ask basic pre-screen questions about certifications, licenses, and background checks.


2. Automated Interview Scheduling

  • The hotline connects to your calendar (Google, Outlook, AMS, etc.).

  • SMS and email reminders reduce no-shows by up to 40%.


3. Integration and Reporting

  • CRM or ATS Sync: Candidate info automatically uploads to your system.

  • Reporting Dashboards: Track calls, screenings, and response times.

  • Audit Trails: Stay compliant with state and federal requirements.

Calculating ROI for a Home Care Hiring Hotline

A 24/7 hiring hotline saves your team time and captures more caregiver leads. You can think about its value in two parts:


1. Time Saved

Fewer missed calls mean your recruiters spend less time returning voicemails or chasing cold leads.


2. More Hires

Faster live agent responses mean more applicants complete the hiring process instead of moving on to another agency.





Real Results: Agency Case Study

Metric

Before Hotline

After Hotline

Call drop-off rate

22%

7%

Time-to-fill

37 days

24 days

Cost-per-hire

$2,000

$1,600

Monthly hires

35

50

Recruiter hours saved

—

16 hours/month


3 Essentials When Choosing a Hiring Hotline Partner


  1. Screening Rigor & Customization

    • Ask about training, question design, and how screening matches your caregiver requirements.

  2. Calendar Integration

    • Look for real-time syncing, automatic reminders, and rescheduling flexibility.

  3. Ease of Management

    • Ask for call forwarding and delegation, on-call scheduling, message delivery.




FAQ: Home Care Hiring Hotline & Recruitment Automation


Q: Why is 24/7 applicant screening important?

A: Many caregivers apply outside normal hours. A 24/7 hotline ensures no lead is missed and gives your agency a competitive edge in recruiting.


Q: How does a hiring hotline help agencies grow?

A: By answering every call live, screening candidates, and booking interviews immediately—so top candidates don’t go elsewhere.


Q: How does a hiring hotline provide access to a larger pool of qualified candidates?

A: With the ability to complete their application with a live person over the phone, anytime, 24/7, the agency will be tapping into candidates that are only able to apply after business hours, the majority of today's caregivers.


Q: How does a hiring hotline eliminate barriers that may prevent qualified caregiver candidates from applying?

A: Connect with skilled, experienced caregivers that struggle with technology due to technical skill, access or language barriers.


Q: What’s the average turnover rate in home care?

A: Around 79% annually for caregivers, highlighting the need for continuous and a reliable, automated, yet high-touch hiring pipeline.


Next Steps: Stop Losing Caregiver Leads


Don’t lose another qualified candidate. Foboa’s 24/7 Home Care Hiring Hotline helps your agency:

  • Capture every call live

  • Differentiate your agency with first candidate contact with a personal (live agent) touch

  • Eliminate any technology barrier (ie online application, etc.) that may limit caregiver applicants

  • Target and hire caregivers that are experienced, high quality that find technology challenging due to ability or access

  • Configurable screening providing the ability to optimize for desired results:

    • Reduce interview no-show

    • Lower turnover

    • Caregiver quality and experience

    • Client satisfaction

  • Automate interview scheduling

  • Track KPIs and improve your hiring performance



Sources

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, Home Health & Personal Care Aides, 2024–2034 Outlook: bls.gov

  • Home Health Care News, Industry-Wide Turnover Report (2024): homehealthcarenews.com

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