"Then They Trust You ": Managing Ergonomics in Home Care.

The home care workforce, already at 2.7 million caregivers, will become the nation's fastest growing occupation by 2024 as the senior boom generation accelerates the demand for in home services to meet its long-term care needs. The physically challenging work of assisting clients with intimate, essential acts of daily living places home care workers (HCWs) at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); yet, HCWs typically receive little formal job training and may lack appropriate assistive devices. In this qualitative pilot study, HCW focus groups described workplace MSD risk factors and identified problem-solving strategies to improve ergonomic conditions. The results revealed that HCWs rely on their behavioral insights, self-styled communications skills and caring demeanor to navigate MSD risks to themselves and increase clients' physical independence of movement. We suggest changes in employer and government policies to acknowledge HCWs as valued team members in long-term care and to enhance their effectiveness as caregivers.

Personal care assistants and blood exposure in the home environment: focus group findings.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to blood and bodily fluids continues to be an important and life-threatening risk facing health care workers employed in traditional health care workplaces. Little is known about how blood exposure risk impacts personal care assistants (PCAs) who provide care in homes. OBJECTIVES: A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-funded community based participatory research project between Service Employees International Union (SEIU), PCAs, and university-based researchers was conducted to increase the understanding of the risk of exposure to blood among PCAs. METHODS: Six focus groups were conducted to assess the relationship between the context of work, blood exposure, and use of available hazard controls in home care workplaces. RESULTS: Findings indicate that PCAs are exposed to blood even though they do not provide health care or treatment. Training and barrier protection may be available, but the quality of each was highly variable if available. CONCLUSIONS: Focus group findings will be used to implement a union-based participatory primary prevention intervention for the reduction of blood exposure among PCAs.