Why is it so Hard to Find a Reliable Caregiver?? Hint: It’s Not Just the Money

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I've heard it over and over again. It's impossible to find a caregiver. Or worse yet, the caregiver never showed up. We all know that hired caregivers are in short supply. We also know that the work is demanding and low paying. But I interviewed Alix, who started a home care agency. She states there is one huge under-recognized factor.

 

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About 9 in 10 home care workers are women, and their median age is 45.  While people of color make up one-fourth of the total U.S. workforce, they comprise more than half of the home care workforce.  Over one-quarter of home care workers were born outside the United States.

 

Around one in four (206; 22%) domiciliary care workers reported at least one incident of verbal abuse by clients or their relatives during the preceding 12 months. Around half (51%) experienced more than one type of verbal abuse; one in 20 (5%) experienced all four (see pdf below).

 

The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights was Reintroduced in the U.S. Senate July 2021

The original bill was sponsored by then Senator Kamala Harris

  • The Average Annual salary for a Home Health Aide is $28,060 with an hourly wage of $13.02.

  • The average annual wage for all workers in the United States is $82,000

  • The turnover rate for Home Health Aides has consistently been high with some reports as high as 90%.

  • The most accurate number is 37%.

 

Please add your thoughts in the comment section below. Do you have any ideas for a good hashtag for caregivers?

With Aloha,

PS: Here's a link to a pdf of the article I mentioned above: Home care aides experiences of verbal abuse

Posted in Caregiving, Dr. Warren, Video.

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