Exploring solutions to retention of home health aides as client numbers climb
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of open home health and personal care aide positions will increase at a rate five times the national average by 2031. Unfortunately, supply may not meet the demand, as one consulting firm estimates roughly half of those health aide roles will be left unfilled as soon as 2025.
More people are seeking HCBS care than ever before, thanks in large part to the known benefits of aging in place and the increased federal funding in support of home care and services. People are increasingly attracted to home vs. institutional care as evidenced by the fact that from 2013-2020 revenues for HCBS services rose by 50.5 percent, while assisted living facility revenues only increased by 34.4 percent.
The Value of Care
There are several factors contributing to the low supply of home health aides, including the paycheck. According to the most recent data from the BLS, the median pay for a home health aide is $14.15/hour, putting home care workers in the bottom 20 percent of income earners in the U.S. In fact, about 45 percent of direct care aides are eligible for Medicaid benefits and receive food or housing assistance just to make ends meet.
Some changes may be on the horizon in some states as lawmakers are pushing to legally mandate—and budget for—competitive pay for HCBS caregivers. At the national level, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking comments to the proposed rule increasing pay by directing 80 percent of all HCBS-specific Medicaid payments straight to workers’ paychecks.
At the same time, those providing health and human services are dealing with greater caseloads all the time. As workers are overextended, they can struggle with burnout. Today, professional and research groups are testing out peer support programs to help home healthcare workers feel valued and connected to the broader professional community. So far, these programs have reportedly offered participants encouragement and increased resilience against burnout.
What’s Next?
Unfortunately, the HCBS caregiver shortage is already leaving aging and/or disabled people in precarious situations. Individuals are faced with delayed hospital discharges or unwanted nursing home placements because adequate care is not available at home. In other circumstances, family members who have health problems themselves try to meet all their loved ones’ care needs and end up exhausting or injuring themselves in the process.
At FEI, our technology solutions help facilitate the delivery of home care and services to the most vulnerable members of our communities. Our comprehensive case management solutions for state Medicaid agencies help alleviate part of the workload burden on HCBS professionals by streamlining cumbersome administrative processes with automated features, allowing more time for client care.
