Caregiver
A trained, non-medical care worker employed to deliver personal care, companionship, or homemaker services to clients in their home. The primary point of service delivery in home care.
Also known as: caregiver · home care aide · care worker · personal care attendant · HHA · home health aide · caregiver aide
Caregivers (also called home care aides or personal care attendants) are the front-line workers who deliver services directly to clients. Their work includes ADL assistance, homemaker tasks, companionship, and light health monitoring (reporting changes in client condition to the care coordinator).
Caregivers may be employees or independent contractors depending on agency model and state law. Certification requirements vary widely by state.
Caregiver quality — skills, reliability, and client rapport — is the single most important driver of client satisfaction and retention in home care. Caregiver turnover is a pervasive industry challenge.
In home care, this means…
Matched to clients based on skill level, availability, location, and client preferences. Performance tracked through EVV compliance, client satisfaction, and supervisory visit observations.
Related terms
CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) →
A state-certified care worker trained in basic nursing care skills. CNAs are qualified for more complex personal care tasks and may be required for high-acuity clients or certain payer programs.
Care Coordinator →
An office-based staff member responsible for conducting client assessments, managing care plans, overseeing service quality, and serving as the primary point of contact for clients and families.
Shift →
A single scheduled work assignment: a specific date, time, client, caregiver, duration, and task list. The shift is the fundamental unit of service delivery and billing in home care.
ADL (Activities of Daily Living) →
Personal self-care tasks individuals perform daily, including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, feeding, and mobility. In home care, caregiver assistance with ADLs is the primary service delivered.
Continuity of Care →
The practice of consistently assigning the same caregiver to a client across multiple visits. Continuity reduces adjustment burden, improves safety, and strengthens the client-caregiver relationship — all of which correlate with higher satisfaction and retention.
Training →
Structured educational programs for caregivers covering orientation, compliance requirements, care skills, and specialty topics. Training is a compliance obligation, a quality investment, and a retention lever.