More than 91% of home care companies are currently using or planning to use artificial intelligence for operations management, according to a May 2026 survey of 403 agency leaders by AxisCare and Dimensional Research. The data shows that agencies are moving past experimental phases, with 87% actively using the technology to reduce costs and free up staff for direct care delivery.
Measurable operational impact
Agencies already deploying the technology report concrete benefits. Ninety-four percent of users experienced overall improvements. Specifically, 64% reported cost reductions through better workflow management, and 59% noted improved strategic decision-making.
This shift directly affects frontline staff. About 48% of agencies said the technology freed caregivers and staff to focus more time on care delivery. "This research confirms that home care has crossed a threshold," said Todd Allen, CEO and co-founder of AxisCare. "Agencies are adopting AI not as an experiment, but as a core part of how they run their business."
Adoption remains uneven
Despite broad interest, maturity levels vary significantly across the sector. Only 15% of surveyed agencies consider their implementation fully mature. Another 30% said their teams are regularly using the technology, while 29% are still evaluating possibilities.
The report noted that technology-forward agencies transforming workflows remain a small group. Meanwhile, just 8% of agencies are not thinking about or planning for the technology in any way. This leaves 77% of agencies actively working to understand and implement these capabilities.
Human connection and security concerns
Home care leaders maintain a positive view of the technology, but they are cautious about its effect on human connection. About 86% of respondents want to ensure their agency adopts the technology in a way that matches their organization's values and operational environment, underscoring the specific demands of AI for healthcare settings.
Agencies are primarily focusing on AI for operations to optimize workflows and increase efficiencies, which helps mitigate some of these concerns. However, specific worries remain prevalent. Fifty-seven percent of respondents cited the potential for errors, while 42% fear caregivers or clients could reject the technology. Additionally, 30% worry about a lack of ability to implement effective security and privacy guardrails.
Why this matters for healthcare, IT and development professionals
The survey data reveals a clear gap between intention and execution in the home care sector. IT and development teams building or selecting tools must prioritize error reduction and privacy guardrails, as these are the top concerns for agency leaders. Furthermore, healthcare administrators should expect vendor pitches to focus heavily on workflow automation rather than standalone experimental agents, which currently represent just 9% of adoption. The immediate value lies in integrating capabilities into existing management applications, not replacing human caregivers.
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