Home-Health Aides Struggle

Home-Health Aides Struggle
With Low Pay, Lack of Benefits
By Kristen Gerencher

From MarketWatch

Home health worker Merlin Willis looks on the bright side as he helps disabled and elderly people with dressing, bathing, food shopping, light housekeeping and feeding.

"In general, it's a decent job," said Willis, 55, who works for San Francisco's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, which helps low-income Californians remain in their homes. "You don't have a boss hanging over you every five seconds. You meet interesting people and you're making a difference."

The little things -- when a patient begins to walk on his own again or says a heartfelt thank you -- go a long way toward making the job satisfying, he said. But the flip side can be intense, such as when an unstable patient doesn't want the intrusion.

"I've been in the position where I've had knives pulled on me, bottles thrown at you," Willis said. "You do get clients that have drug problems, alcohol problems and they live in a single room of a sleazy hotel. You have to take care of them also. They're people."

Despite growing demand for their services, home-health workers often face tough working conditions, spotty low pay and lack of health insurance, experts said. Such issues are poised to become even more serious as Baby Boomers age and seek to remain out of nursing homes...MORE