It’s no surprise that the home health care industry is growing, as seniors choose to “age in place” at home instead of in nursing homes. Home health care is a long term health care option with huge growth potential, as the Baby Boom generation enters retirement.
Demand for home health care will increase, but right now, the wages don’t match the demand. That likely will change in the coming years. These days, home health care workers do more than provide basic services. An excerpt from NPR:
“When I’m in home care, I’m a doctor, I’m a nurse, I’m a cook, I’m a dietician,” says Tracy Dudzinski, who traveled from Wisconsin. “You name it, we do it.”
Over 16 years, Dudzinski says she’s seen her duties grow more complex, as people live longer and hospitals release patients sooner after surgery.
“We have to watch for if they’re having a reaction to medication,” she says. “Sometimes we’re doing basic wound care. I took care of a gentleman who was a quadriplegic.”
Like any long term care provider, home health care providers who accept Medicaid and/or Medicare will have to deal with reimbursement issues, which can affect how much they pay workers and charge clients. The Texas Tribune published a related story on how the expansion of Medicaid managed care in Texas is affecting home health care providers.