Home-based healthcare professionals face significant risks due to the nature of their work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home care workers experience more than double the national rate of workplace injuries compared to other industries, with 61% of workers reporting some form of workplace violence. These risks stem from dangers such as working in unsafe neighborhoods, dealing with aggressive patients or their relatives, and exposure to hazards like illegal weapons, verbal abuse, and unsanitary conditions.

Alarmingly, healthcare workers made up 70% of non-fatal workplace violence victims in 2019, and they are four times more likely to endure workplace violence than those in other industries. Additionally, specific data shows that in nursing homes with dementia units, 59% of aides face weekly assaults, with 16% experiencing attacks daily.

These hazards not only jeopardize the well-being of caregivers but also pose significant operational and financial challenges to organizations. The impact of caregiver turnover is particularly costly, with 65% of employees leaving on average, and each case amounting to $44,400 in turnover costs, as per a 2021 NSI Nursing Solutions study. Beyond financial implications, ensuring staff safety is a regulatory priority, as OSHA mandates employers to provide workplaces free from hazards likely to cause serious harm. Implementing proactive safety measures, such as tools like Silent Beacon’s personal safety device and wearable healthcare panic button, can help mitigate these risks, improve morale, reduce turnover, and ensure compliance with safety regulations while fostering a safer environment for healthcare teams.