Losing Caregivers to Private Clients? Here’s What Your Agency Can Do About It
You finally hire a dependable caregiver. They show up, do excellent work, and earn trust with clients. Then one day, they’re gone. Not to another agency, but working privately for the same family you matched them with.
Sound familiar?
More caregivers are leaving agency jobs to work directly with clients. It’s happening more often than you think, and for reasons that make sense from the caregiver’s point of view. But that doesn’t mean your business has to accept it. If you’re not paying attention, this trend will quietly cost you your best people.
Today, you'll get to know the exact reasons why caregivers leave agency work to go private, what your business risks when they do, and what you can do right now to retain your best people.
Why Caregivers Leave to Work Privately
This isn’t about disloyalty. It’s about survival and strategy. Many caregivers who leave agency jobs for private work are making decisions based on two things: better caregiver pay rates and more control.
Here’s what they often get from private caregiving jobs:
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Higher hourly rates with no agency cut
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Flexible schedules they control
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Direct, personal relationships with the families
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Less paperwork and fewer policies
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A deeper sense of caregiver job satisfaction
From their perspective, it’s a win. No long shifts with unpredictable gaps. No constant app updates. No last-minute call-offs. Just work, payment, and often, more respect.
And if caregivers see their peers succeeding with caregivers working independently with clients, they’re likely to follow.
The Risks Agencies Face When This Happens
Letting top talent walk out the door doesn’t just affect one shift. It exposes your business to far more:
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Ongoing caregiver turnover
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Declining client satisfaction
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Reduced team morale and growing caregiver burnout
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Increased caregiver recruitment costs
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A weakened reputation in your local market
You also risk private caregiver hiring risk, including families sidestepping contracts, mismanaging care, or making your agency appear unnecessary.
If you’re losing caregivers to private clients repeatedly, your agency’s growth will stall. Even if your marketing is strong.
What Private Clients Offer That Agencies Often Don’t
Let’s be honest. Some agencies lose caregivers not because of money, but because of rigid systems, slow responses, or poor support.
Here’s what caregivers say draws them toward independent work:
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Higher Pay Without Middle Cuts
Caregivers know what you charge families. If they earn $15 and you charge $32, they feel shortchanged. This gap creates resentment and reduces caregiver loyalty. Private clients often offer $22 to $25 an hour directly. That’s a big difference.
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Fewer Schedule Disruptions
Most caregivers leave not for more hours, but for more predictable ones. Independent work allows them to plan their lives. Private clients don’t call off shifts last minute. They don’t double-book. Caregivers value knowing what to expect day to day.
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Simpler Communication
Agencies with slow response times or outdated systems lose caregivers fast. Private arrangements usually mean faster answers and fewer steps.
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Personalized Relationships
Without agency policies in the middle, caregivers often feel more connected to the families they serve. They get more appreciation and sometimes bonuses or gifts that agency rules prohibit.
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No Unpaid Downtime
In agency work, caregivers may have gaps between clients or cancellations without pay. Private work often means full shifts with steady hours.
Ultimately, many caregivers see independent work as a way to protect their time, health, and energy, especially in non-medical home care. If your caregivers are leaving for private jobs, it’s often because your agency is missing one or more of these key factors.