Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller

The challenges home care workers face

Taura Tate, Crell Johnson
In this Aug. 1, 2012 photo, Taura Tate, left, a home care aide since 1999, folds laundry for Crell Johnson, 76, at Johnson's apartment, in Euclid, Ohio. For the past three years, she has spent four hours each weekday morning caring for Johnson, who is in her 70s and suffered a stroke and has diabetes. Tate cooks Johnson's oatmeal for breakfast, helps her shower and watches to make sure she takes the right medicine.
AP Photo/Tony Dejak

As the elder population grows — and wants to stay at home rather than turn to a nursing home or hospital — the need for home health aides does, too. Employment in this field is expected to increase more than 30 percent over the next decade, much faster than the overall average.

With fast growth, however, come growing pains. Low wages, insufficient benefits and a lack of quality training pose challenges for these workers as the industry expands and provides care for aging America. Guest host Chris Farrell talks with an analyst and the co-founder of a home-care cooperative to understand the growth of this field and what’s needed to improve job quality.

Guests:

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