Home health care aides face significantly higher rates of arthritis and functional disability compared to health care aides working in hospitals or long-term care facilities, according to researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The recent study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, raises critical concerns about how the demands of home care work are affecting the health of caregivers, especially considering more families are relying on home health care.
This research was led by Dr. Shelbie Turner, postdoctoral associate in the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, in collaboration with Dr. Madeline Sterling, associate professor of medicine, and Michael Dicpinigaitis, research assistant in the Division of General Internal Medicine, all at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Using national data from the 2021 to 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), the research team examined health outcomes across various care settings. They found that around 28.5% of home health care aides reported arthritis, compared to about 19.5% of aides in hospitals or nursing homes. This gap remained after adjusting for factors such as age, gender, education level and body weight, suggesting that the home health care environment may increase the risk of physical strain and long-term musculoskeletal issues.
The study highlights several factors contributing to these disparities. Home health care workers often perform physically demanding tasks without access to equipment like lifts, adjustable beds or transfer aids, which are common in hospitals and nursing homes. This lack of support with equipment increases physical strain. In addition, financial challenges and limited access to medical care further delay early diagnosis and treatment of conditions like arthritis.
Based on these findings, Dr. Turner and Dr. Sterling suggest that stronger protections and support for home health care workers are warranted. They recommend increased training in safe patient handling techniques, better access to ergonomic assistive devices in home environments, routine health screenings and improved wages and benefits.
As the need for home-based care continues to rise, protecting the health and safety of the long-term care workforce, particularly those providing care in the home setting, is crucial for their well-being and for maintaining reliable caregivers for older adults.