Citation

Schoenfisch AL, Lipscomb H, Phillips LE. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2017; 60(9): 798-810.

Affiliation

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare NW Health Benefits Trust, Seattle, Washington.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22747

PMID

28744929

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A rate-based understanding of home care aides' adverse occupational outcomes related to their work location and care tasks is lacking.

METHODS: Within a 30-month, dynamic cohort of 43 394 home care aides in Washington State, injury rates were calculated by aides' demographic and work characteristics. Injury narratives and focus groups provided contextual detail.

RESULTS: Injury rates were higher for home care aides categorized as female, white, 50 to <65 years old, less experienced, with a primary language of English, and working through an agency (versus individual providers). In addition to direct occupational hazards, variability in workload, income, and supervisory/social support is of concern.

CONCLUSIONS: Policies should address the roles and training of home care aides, consumers, and managers/supervisors. Home care aides' improved access to often-existing resources to identify, manage, and eliminate occupational hazards is called for to prevent injuries and address concerns related to the vulnerability of this needed workforce.

© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

cohort; epidemiologic; home care; mixed-methods; occupational injury