Thanksgiving Reflection from Ascension Business Solutions
As this year comes to an end, our entire team at Ascension Business Solutions has been reflecting on how meaningful 2025 has been. For us, this has been a year of clarity, growth, and deeper connection with the Home Care community we are proud to serve.
While we continued supporting a smaller number of Home Health, Hospice, and Healthcare practices, 2025 solidified what we’ve always known to be true: Home Care is at the heart of our mission.
It is where most of our clients operate.
It is where our virtual assistants provide the most impact.
It is where we have built the strongest relationships, systems, and results.
This year, we attended 23 conferences, strengthened our internal operations, expanded our support layers, refined our onboarding processes, and deepened our understanding of the real challenges Home Care owners are facing.
Through every conversation, every onboarding, every success, and even every challenge, we learned lessons that shaped who we are as a company.
As we enter the season of gratitude, we want to share the top ten lessons we learned from supporting Home Care leaders across the country in 2025.
1. Systems Matter More in Home Care Than Almost Any Other Industry
Home Care is chaotic by nature. Caregiver call-offs, urgent scheduling, last-minute admissions, family concerns, and compliance needs make daily operations unpredictable.
The agencies who thrived this year had one thing in common:
strong systems and documented processes.
Clear workflows reduced overwhelm.
Structured onboarding increased performance.
Defined roles removed confusion.
Predictability replaced chaos.
2. Delegation Gives Home Care Owners Their Time Back
In Home Care, the owner often becomes the recruiter, scheduler, HR, On Call, and admin. This level of responsibility is unsustainable.
The moment owners embraced delegation—especially to a well-trained VA with structured support—everything shifted.
More time.
More clarity.
More strategy.
More ability to work on the business, not in it.
Delegation wasn’t a luxury. It became a lifeline.
3. Burnout in Home Care Comes From Broken Processes, Not Busy Seasons
Yes, Home Care is demanding. But burnout didn’t come from the workload alone.
It came from:
Unclear tasks
Missing SOPs
Disorganized onboarding
Reactive communication
Last-minute training
Expectations that shifted daily
When structure increased, burnout decreased.
When communication improved, stress reduced.
When expectations became clear, trust deepened.
4. The Quality of a VA’s Performance Is Determined During Onboarding
This was especially true in Home Care.
The best VA-client partnerships happened when:
The owner communicated consistently
Systems were documented
Expectations were clear
Training was intentional
Daily check-ins were standard
Feedback was timely
Onboarding wasn’t just preparation.
It was the foundation of performance.
5. Communication Is the Core of Every Successful Home Care Operation
Home Care agencies with predictable communication rhythms saw stronger retention and better outcomes:
Daily VA updates
Weekly summaries
Clear priorities
Defined escalation paths
Transparent expectations
Communication wasn’t optional.
It was essential.
6. Culture Is a Competitive Advantage
Home Care is personal. Emotional. Human.
Agencies with strong culture saw:
Higher caregiver retention
Better client satisfaction
More committed administrative teams
More loyal VAs
Fewer surprises
Less leadership burnout
Culture was not a soft skill.
It was a measurable business strategy.
7. Technology in Home Care Needs Training and Support Behind It
Many agencies invested in scheduling platforms, phone systems, EHRs, and HR tools. But those tools only worked well when supported by:
Clear SOPs
Proper VA training
Ongoing refreshers
Accessible documentation
Real-time accountability
When technology and training worked together, efficiency soared.
8. Data Helped Home Care Owners Make Clearer Decisions
Owners who tracked:
Caregiver attendance
Scheduling gaps
Admissions and referrals
Call volume
VA performance
Retention indicators
Made decisions faster and with less emotional pressure.
Data created clarity.
Clarity created leadership confidence.
9. Support Systems Made the Difference for Stressed Owners
The Home Care owners who saw the most stability this year didn’t run their companies alone. They leaned on:
ABS onboarding structure
Team Leaders
SMEs
Success Managers
A well-supported VA
Clear expectations and reporting
Defined communication channels
Support gave owners room to breathe.
Breathing room created better leadership.
10. Gratitude Strengthens Every Team
This year reminded us that gratitude—from owners, caregivers, leaders, and VAs—changes the energy inside an agency.
When gratitude was consistent, teams communicated better.
When appreciation was expressed, mistakes turned into learning.
When leadership showed care, teams showed loyalty.
Gratitude builds strong agencies.
Gratitude is not seasonal.
Gratitude is a strategy.
What We Are Grateful For
We are grateful for the Home Care owners who trusted us.
For the VAs who showed up with dedication and professionalism.
For the partners who welcomed us into their communities.
For the experiences that made us better.
And for the mission that continues to guide us.
Home Care is where our heart is.
And serving your agencies continues to be one of our greatest honors.
Looking Ahead to 2026
In 2026, our focus remains firm:
Stronger systems
Better support
Less burnout
More structured onboarding
More clarity
More stability for Home Care owners and their teams
We look forward to 2026 partnering with you, for more stronger systems and less burnout.
Talk to us.