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Kelly CM, Deichert JA. A Profile of the Direct Care Workforce in Home- and Community-Based Services. J Appl Gerontol 2023; 42:1921-1929. [PMID: 37100419 DOI: 10.1177/07334648231173580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We used data from the 2020 American Community Survey to compare direct care workers (DCWs) in home and community-based services (HCBS) with workers in other long-term supportive services (LTSS), such as skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and assisted living facilities (ALFs). Compared to DCWs in SNFs and ALFs, a higher proportion of DCWs in HCBS were over age 65, Latino/a, and single. A lower proportion of DCWs in HCBS worked for a for-profit company, worked year-round and full-time, and had employer-based health insurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Kelly
- Center for Public Affairs Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jerome A Deichert
- Center for Public Affairs Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
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Janssen LM, Abbott KM. "It Hits Me Right Here at my Heart": Promoting Emotional Health of Home Care Workers. J Appl Gerontol 2023; 42:680-688. [PMID: 36305376 DOI: 10.1177/07334648221127690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Demand for home and community-based services continues to outpace employment of home care workers (HCWs) who provide this vital assistance. HCWs face challenges that contribute to inadequate staff retention. Of particular concern is the lack of research on HCWs' emotional health. This research describes facilitators and resources that support HCW emotional health. Qualitative descriptive interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of HCWs (n = 17) who were formally recognized for their success. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded in Dedoose. Thematic analysis revealed three facilitators of emotional health that HCWs link to their professional success: "right state of mind," practicing self-care, and a combined sense of appreciation and support. HCWs highlight specific, practicable resources that promote their emotional health. Policy implications connects low wages and benefits to HCW emotional health, and practice implications for enhancing training and support to retain these important workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Janssen
- Scripps Gerontology Center, 6403Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
| | - Katherine M Abbott
- Scripps Gerontology Center, Department of Sociology & Gerontology, 6403Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
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Russell D, Fong MC, Gao O, Lowenstein D, Haas M, Wiggins F, Brickner C, Franzosa E. Formative Evaluation of a Workforce Investment Organization to Provide Scaled Training for Home Health Aides Serving Managed Long-Term Care Plan Clients in New York State. J Appl Gerontol 2022; 41:1710-1721. [PMID: 35420904 DOI: 10.1177/07334648221084182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of its Medicaid program restructuring, New York State funded 11 Workforce Investment Organizations (WIO) to support training initiatives for the long-term care workforce. Focusing on one WIO, this formative evaluation examined quality improvement training programs delivered to 11,163 Home Health Aides employed by home care agencies serving clients of Managed Long-Term Care plans. Results are presented from a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with organizational and program stakeholders examining contextual factors influencing program objectives, implementation, barriers and facilitators, and perceived outcomes. Findings suggested that WIO training programs were implemented during a period of shifting organizational strategies alongside value-based payment reforms and challenges to aide recruitment and retention. Stakeholders appraised WIO training programs positively and valued program flexibility and facilitation of communication and collaboration between agencies and plans. However, delivery and implementation challenges existed, and industry-wide structural fragmentation led stakeholders to question the WIO's larger impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Russell
- Department of Sociology, 1801Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA.,Center for Home Care Policy & Research, 44198Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mei-Chia Fong
- Business Intelligence and Analytics, 44198Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Oude Gao
- Business Intelligence and Analytics, 44198Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dan Lowenstein
- Business Intelligence and Analytics, 44198Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marian Haas
- Business Intelligence and Analytics, 44198Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Faith Wiggins
- 1199SEIU Home Care Industry Education Fund, New York, NY, USA
| | - Carlin Brickner
- Business Intelligence and Analytics, 44198Visiting Nurse Service of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily Franzosa
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), 20071James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Shih RA, Friedman EM, Chen EK, Whiting GC. Prevalence and Correlates of Gray Market Use for Aging and Dementia Long-Term Care in the U.S. J Appl Gerontol 2021; 41:1030-1034. [PMID: 34116602 DOI: 10.1177/07334648211023681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To estimate the national prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of gray market utilization, consisting of paid providers who are unrelated to the recipient, not working for a regulated agency, and potentially unscreened and untrained, for aging and dementia-related long-term care. METHODS We surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,037 American Life Panel respondents aged 18 years and older. RESULTS Nearly a third of Americans who arranged paid care sought gray market care for persons with dementia, and most (65%) combined it with unpaid care. Respondents who arranged gray market care had 66% lower odds of currently working, and those living in rural areas had an almost 5-times higher odds of arranging dementia gray market care. DISCUSSION Gray market care represents a substantial proportion of paid, long-term care for older adults and may fill gaps in access to care.
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Tsui EK, Franzosa E, Reckrey JM, LaMonica M, Cimarolli VR, Boerner K. Interventions to Reduce the Impact of Client Death on Home Care Aides: Employers' Perspectives. J Appl Gerontol 2021; 41:332-340. [PMID: 33522367 DOI: 10.1177/0733464821989859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
For home care agencies and aides, the death of clients has important, yet often unrecognized, workforce implications. While research demonstrates that client death can cause grief and job insecurity for aides, we currently lack home care agencies' perspectives on this issue and approaches to addressing it. This study uses key informant interviews with leaders from a diverse sample of eight New York City home care agencies to explore facilitators and barriers to agency action. We found that agencies engaged primarily in a range of informal, reactive practices related to client death, and relatively few targeted and proactive efforts to support aides around client death. While leaders generally acknowledged a need for greater aide support, they pointed to a lack of sustainable home care financing and policy resources to fund this. We recommend increased funding to support wages, paid time off, and supportive services, and discuss implications for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K Tsui
- The City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York City, USA
| | - Emily Franzosa
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center and Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.,Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| | | | - Marita LaMonica
- The City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York City, USA
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Landes SD, Weng SS. Racial–Ethnic Differences in Turnover Intent Among Home Health Aides. J Appl Gerontol 2019; 39:490-501. [DOI: 10.1177/0733464819827806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Home health aides are crucial to ensuring quality services for the growing older adult population needing home-based care in the United States. We utilize data from the nationally representative 2007 National Home Health Aide Survey ( N = 3,344) to analyze racial–ethnic disparity in turnover intent. Non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Other home health aides had higher all-cause turnover intent than Non-Hispanic Whites. Cause-specific turnover intent varied by race–ethnicity. Compared with non-Hispanic White home health aides, (a) non-Hispanic Black home health aides were more likely to leave due to low pay and educational/advancement opportunities; (b) Hispanic home health aides were more likely to leave due to a perceived lack of respect or difficulty with their supervisor/agency; and (c) non-Hispanic home health aides were more likely to leave due to an impending move. Findings suggest that efforts to address high levels of turnover intent among home health aides should account for differences in race–ethnic groups.
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Tsui EK, Franzosa E, Cribbs KA, Baron S. Home Care Workers' Experiences of Client Death and Disenfranchised Grief. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2019; 29:382-392. [PMID: 30264669 DOI: 10.1177/1049732318800461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
While many types of health care workers experience patient death, home care workers do so under vastly different social and economic circumstances. When a client dies, home care workers often lose both a close relationship and a job. Though research suggests that health care workers' grief may frequently be disenfranchised, there is no in-depth study of the mechanisms that disenfranchise home care workers' grief specifically. To address this gap, our study used focus groups and peer interviews between home care workers in New York City. We describe four interrelated grief strategies they employ to navigate social and employer-based "grieving rules." Our findings suggest that home care workers' grief is disenfranchised via employer and societal underestimations of their relationships with clients and their losses when clients die, particularly job loss. Building on our findings, we suggest alterations to agency practices and home care systems to improve support for workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K Tsui
- 1 CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Emily Franzosa
- 1 CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Kristen A Cribbs
- 1 CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York City, New York, USA
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