The Cost of Turnover in Home Healthcare: A Conceptual Model

Despite the relatively high turnover rates and increasing demand for homecare, little is known about the costs of turnover for homecare employers. To create effective policies to reduce turnover and associated costs, employers require an understanding of what factors contribute to the costs of turnover. Building upon existing models from labour economic and human resources theories, we worked with subject matter experts from a large homecare employer organization to co-design the first known homecare cost of turnover model. The resulting model accounts for sector-specific cost differences and can be used to estimate the costs of homecare worker turnover. As homecare continues to face high workforce instability, clear estimates of the cost of turnover can guide organizations and decision-makers in the evidence-based design of retention policies and programs to the benefit of homecare workers, funders, those seeking homecare, and the broader health and social care system.