WACO, Texas – AxisCare, a leading provider of home care software, recently announced the findings from independent research on the future of home care conducted by Leading Home Care, a Tweed Jeffries company. 

The third annual survey reveals persistent economic pressure that continues to reshape agency growth strategies across the home care industry. 

For the third consecutive year, client affordability and rising costs of staff, supplies and services remain the most significant obstacles to growth, with 61 percent of industry leaders rating these challenges as a very big or extreme hindrance to their ability to expand and serve their communities. 

The findings also highlight how economic pressure and rising costs are reshaping agency growth priorities in 2026, with leaders increasingly focused on optimizing performance within existing markets rather than expansion.

The survey found:

  • Profitability concerns increased sharply from 13 percent to 34 percent, reflecting increasing financial pressure across the industry.
  • 65 percent of agencies identified improving performance in their current market and attracting new clients as the greatest growth opportunity.
  • Caregiver shortages remain the top pain point, but concern declined from 59 percent to 53 percent, signaling improvements in recruitment and retention efforts.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer emerging – it is operational. Cited by 65 percent of respondents, AI is the leading technology trend in home care, and it is expected to deliver the greatest impact through client and caregiver shift matching and automated scheduling. 

The survey also found that federal policy changes are expected to significantly influence agency growth. More than 45 percent of respondents said the One Big Beautiful Bill will have a significant impact on their ability to scale, with 55 percent citing the Medicaid provider tax reduction as the biggest operational challenge.

“This year’s survey shows an industry getting smarter under pressure,” said Todd Allen, CEO of AxisCare. “Home care agencies have shifted from expansion-focused strategies to sustainable growth powered by technology. We’re seeing AI move from nice-to-have to essential, helping agencies support their caregivers and deliver better care with the resources they have.”