Recognizing a growing demand for home health care and consumers’ lack of information when hiring the services of in-home aides, a USA Today article offers several key tips for navigating one of the nation’s fastest-growing job forces.
Employment in the home health care sector has been on the rise in recent years. The industry saw employment growth increase by an average of 7,000 jobs per month in 2013, compared to 6,000 a month in 2012 and 4,000 per month in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics December 2013 jobs report.
In 2012 alone, approximately 4.7 million people in the U.S. received a form of long-term care in their homes, notes USA Today.
Hiring home care workers requires considerable thought in terms of what services are needed, affording this type of care as well as knowing where to look for the best hires.
A common misconception when hiring home care aides relates to the level of services they provide, or the level of care needed by an individual, according to the article written by Robert Powell, editor of Retirement Weekly.
“Licensed home health aids provide hands-on personal care, but not medical care, in the home—activities such as bathing and dressing,” Powell writes. “If all you need is help with cooking and running errands, you might be better off hiring homemaker services, also referred to as personal care assistants or companions.”
Hiring from an agency that has at least five years of experience and also meets all of the state’s licensing laws is another factor to consider, as aides from these agencies might be better equipped to provide care for someone with memory or behavioral issues, Powell adds.
Paying for home health care services is another area to consider, the costs of these services vary from state to state.
In Florida, these services can range between $12 to $28 per hour, while in California they can range anywhere from $16 to $30, according to Genworth 2013 survey data referenced in the article.
Even with the adequate funds to afford home health services, those looking to hire aides should hire from an agency that employs professional staff to manage the in-home care workers to ensure greater coordination.
Written by Jason Oliva
