Why home health care is on the rise
While some areas of health care may be seeing decreases in demand, home health care is on the rise. The demand for in-home health care services may prove to be very profitable for home health care agencies and those who choose to enter into the profession of home health care.
Increase in demand for home health care services
As baby boomers are now aging, the demand for home health care is on the rise. Other factors for the increase in demand for home health care services include those who are terminally or critically ill and simply choose to be cared for at home. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Career Guide to Industries, 2010-11 Edition, the patient’s preference for home health care has enabled the growing field of home health care to “change this once-small segment of the industry into one of the fastest-growing health care services.” In a November 2009 article, Indus News Wire reported that FRANdata, an Arlington, Va. firm, conducted a study which “provides statistical analysis of the demand and supply for home health care services” as well as projected growth and other services. FRANdata considered home health care as one of the most rapidly growing industries and stated that the demand for home health care services will continue growing over the next decade as baby boomers are aging. Kenneth Wills of Healthcare Careers Examiner stated in his Examiner article, “Healthcare Careers—Top 10 Jobs in Demand,” that home health care jobs fall under an umbrella of jobs that will see growth due to not only aging baby boomers, but also due to a population that is living longer.
Reasons for home health care
Home Health Works indicates that while many people often try to provide care at home for aging family members, those people often experience job-related difficulties, problems with their own health, or interruptions in their own personal and family lives as a result of attempting to care for aging or ill parents or other family members. Home Health Works suggests that home health care is the most viable option for providing necessary care to loved ones, as it can be provided without the high cost of nursing homes, assisted-living or other care facilities and will enable the senior citizen family member to remain in their own home, which is where they most likely wish to be.
In a U.S. News Money Article, “Long Term Care Costs Cheapest at Home,” a Genworth Financial Cost of Care study indicated that while costs of nursing home care rose significantly over the past year, the costs for home health have essentially remained unchanged over the past five years. This may further support the patient’s or family’s decision to seek home health care services instead of a nursing home or assisted living facility. The loved one will be in familiar surroundings without the fear and stress that may accompany being in a strange place, therefore enabling the aging loved one or chronically ill loved one to recover and be cared for in the “best environment for recovery.” The patient and family will potentially be less stressed over the cost of care.
When a patient is sent home from the hospital or extended care facility, the patient may still be in need of specialized care. The physician may order home health care services to those recovering from surgery, chronic illness, accident or injury.
Job prospects for the home health care sector
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as stated by Wills, the home health care segment of health care is expected to see a 50 percent increase by the year 2018. This makes it one of the fastest-growing segments of all health care. It is not only the increase of people needing or choosing home health care that is contributing to the growth in the home health care field. There may be a higher turnover in home health care than in some other sectors of the health care industry. The BLS indicates that the “high replacement need” will indeed contribute to the growth of the home health care industry.
Those choosing a career in the home health care industry and wishing to enjoy long-term career success may want to not only become certified, but to also seek additional education, training and certifications as necessary to provide more extensive care to patients and ensure employment at the best agencies, at the highest salary levels.
