Emerging Safety Trends 2025: Home-Based Healthcare

Mobile Safety Apps and Wearables

Trend: Organizations are equipping employees with mobile safety tools to enhance real-time communication and improve emergency response.

Example: Products such as KATANA Safety offer quick-trigger alarms that connect home health workers with emergency services in seconds.

87%

87% of lone workers felt significantly safer when equipped with a panic button or safety app

The Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine

 

Increased Focus on Workplace Violence Prevention

Trend: A growing commitment from healthcare organizations to implement training and protocols on how to deal with a potentially violent situation.

Example: Organizations have implemented pre-visit risk assessments to identify homes with a history of being unsafe, and prepare workers before entering homes.

60%

Agencies that implemented violence prevention training saw a 60% drop in reported incidents within one year.

OSHA

 

Improved Scheduling and Route Optimization

Trend: The use of route-planning software to reduce stress and travel through unsafe areas.

Example: One organization uses an AI scheduling tool to avoid high-risk neighborhoods and improve safety during late-night home visits.

15%

With optimized scheduling, agencies saw a 20% drop in staff-reported safety concerns and a 15% increase in on-time arrivals.

Home Care Plus

 

Remote Monitoring and Virtual Visits

Trend: Telehealth allows staff to remotely monitor patients without exposing them to any physical danger.

Example: Using remote monitoring tools to track vitals and perform follow-up visits with stable patients to avoid unnecessary in-home visits.

21%

Agencies that adopted remote check-ins during COVID-19 saw a 21% drop in caregiver injury claims related to in-home hazards.

CDC

 

Compliance and Reporting Tools

Trend: Agencies are investing in systems and training to ensure employees remain in line with OSHA safety standards.

Example: A digital reporting platform that allows staff to both record visit information and report unsafe conditions from a mobiel device.

53%

Healthcare agencies with real-time reporting systems see a 53% improvement in safety issue resolution times and a 40% reduction in repeat incidents.

OSHA

 

Support for Mental Health and Burnout

Trend: Home care is a high-stress, often isolating work environment, so organizations are instituting mental health and well-being initiatives.

Example: One organization offers access to a 24/7 mental health helpline and Employee Assistance Program (EAP), with optional monthly virtual therapy sessions for staff support.

25%

Organizations that offer mental health benefits have 25% higher retention rates and report 50% fewer sick days related to stress.

McKinsey


Summary

Home-based healthcare organizations that implement employee health and safety initiatives see:

Increased Retention

Improved OSHA Compliance

Faster Emergency Reolution


Contact KATANA Safety to see how we can help improve your employee safety measures.

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