A shifting ecosystem of hybrid players
The home care landscape in France is undergoing a structural transformation, with the growing presence of hybrid players reshaping traditional boundaries. Some SAAD providers are moving to other segments of the value chain by integrating nursing services, both to capture more value and to reduce their dependence on regulated APA pricing. Meanwhile, major EHPAD operating groups have expanded into home care, aiming to reach a broader, less institutionalised patient base.
New, intermediate models are also emerging, such as Ages & Vie, to offer non-medicalised senior co-living arrangements. This further blurs the lines between home care, assisted living and residential facilities.
Strategic priorities: The shift to more integrated home care
To capitalise on the growing convergence of at-home support and more medicalised care, the sector must urgently address two critical issues: upskilling of the workforce and embedding digital tools in day-to-day work.
Developing the right capabilities
To effectively meet the demands of a more complex, medically oriented care model, home care workers must have the opportunity to strengthen their skills base. Going forward, in addition to reinforcing core hygiene and supporting the acts of daily living, home aides must be trained to recognise early signs of health deterioration and then act as a reliable relay within multidisciplinary care teams. Enhancing communication with nurses and physicians is crucial to ensuring seamless coordination and timely escalation when clinical issues arise.
This shift requires not only more robust initial training, but also a culture of ongoing professional development. Many home care workers still operate in isolation, with limited access to structured learning or feedback. New training models that are more modular, digital and adapted to field constraints will be essential to support skills acquisition and retention.
At the same time, the sector must address deep-rooted recruitment challenges: according to the national employment agency, France Travail, hiring is a struggle for approximately 80% of home care and domestic support roles. This reflects both a shortage of qualified candidates and the demanding physical, emotional and organisational nature of the work.
Moreover, emerging needs call for hybrid profiles — professionals who exhibit a combination of interpersonal, technical and digital competencies in order to manage frailty; support autonomy; and use modern, connected health tools. Developing such capabilities at scale through recruitment and training will be a defining challenge — and opportunity — for home care providers seeking to remain relevant in a transforming ecosystem.
Leveraging digital tools and training
As home care evolves, digital tools increasingly enable effective, coordinated care delivery to serve patients with increasingly complex needs. These technologies make care delivery more responsive, continuous and integrated across disciplines, improving quality in ways such as the following:
- Secure digital platforms allow for real-time sharing of patient information. Home aides, nurses and other healthcare practitioners can deliver faster decision-making and greater continuity across fragmented care pathways. Providers who achieve this level of interoperability are hard to come by and may gain a significant operational advantage.
- Remote patient monitoring is the new frontier of digital. Fall detectors, biometric alerts and smart home sensors provide actionable data related to frail patients, particularly those living alone. These technologies may help detect deterioration early and reduce emergency interventions — a critical benefit in ageing populations who benefit greatly from avoiding hospital visits.
- Digital tools are enabling a new wave of training approaches. E-learning platforms, mobile apps and simulation-based modules provide accessible, flexible upskilling for a workforce that often lacks the time or mobility for traditional training. For home care professionals frequently working in isolation, this continuous learning capacity is vital for quality and confidence in care delivery.
Looking ahead, the most advanced home care operators — especially those evolving into integrated and more medicalised services — have the potential to become true care orchestrators. By combining digital infrastructure, trained staff and data-driven insights, they can coordinate medical and social interventions remotely, with greater agility and precision.
The digital transformation of home care is about empowering frontline workers, connecting care teams and creating a new standard of proactive, patient-centred service at home.
How L.E.K. can help
The home care sector is at a crossroads, where significant opportunities exist for both established players and new entrants to unlock value.
To discuss these insights in greater detail, or to explore strategic transformation opportunities in the home care sector, please get in touch with the authors.
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