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.
Also known as: shift · shift assignment · care assignment · caregiver shift · scheduled visit
A shift represents one instance of planned care delivery. It includes the date, start and end time, client, assigned caregiver, and the task list from the client's care plan. Shifts are distinct from schedules (recurring patterns) and from visits (the executed instance of a shift).
Shift status progresses through states: proposed → assigned → confirmed → in-progress → completed → documented. Each stage has operational implications for EVV compliance, billing, and quality assurance.
Unfilled shifts represent immediate revenue loss and potential client safety risk.
In home care, this means…
The primary scheduling unit. Every client's care plan defines a recurring shift schedule. Deviations (cancellations, no-shows, late arrivals) require real-time scheduler response.
Related terms
Visit →
The executed instance of a shift — the actual delivery of care including clock-in, task performance, documentation, and clock-out. The visit is the billing unit in home care.
Open Shift →
A scheduled shift that does not yet have a confirmed caregiver assignment. Open shifts represent both a scheduling risk (potential revenue loss) and an urgent operational task for the scheduler.
Call-Off →
When a scheduled caregiver notifies the agency that they cannot work their assigned shift, typically with some advance notice. Call-offs trigger the open shift backfill process.
No-Show →
When a scheduled caregiver fails to appear for their shift without prior notice. No-shows are more disruptive than call-offs and may put vulnerable clients at risk if not caught quickly.
EVV (Electronic Visit Verification) →
A technology system that electronically verifies caregiver presence, time, and location at a client's home at the start and end of each visit. Federally mandated for Medicaid and VA home care services.
Scheduler →
An office staff member responsible for assigning caregivers to shifts, managing open shifts, and handling real-time cancellations. Fill rate — the percentage of scheduled shifts that are covered — is the scheduler's core performance metric.
Care Plan →
An individualized document specifying a client's care needs, approved service tasks, frequency, duration, and caregiver assignments. It is the operational blueprint for every shift and the legal basis for billing Medicaid and insurance payers.