InFocus Home Support Workers

Why focus on home support workers in the continuum of care?

Aging in place is about getting the right care at the right time in the right place, and by the right care giver. To date, there is little recognition of the critical role that front line, non-medical home support workers (HSWs) play in many different settings across the health care continuum.

HSWs make up a substantial proportion of the health care workforce and provide much needed assistance with daily activities in hospitals, long-term care and educational facilities, adult day programs and at home in the community. According to Lilly (2008), the Canadian Home Care Human Resources Study Survey of Formal Caregivers estimated that HSWs carry out most (70–80%) of all paid home care work in the country. Yet, we know relatively little about them (Aronson and Neysmith, 1996; Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centre et al., 2000; Toronto District Health Council 2002; Twigg, 1999).

This InFocus gives an overview of the role of home support workers within the broad continuum of care, their training programs and standards in Canada and other jurisdictions. While there may be some overlap in the issues around home support workers who serve older people and those who care for people with disabilities, there are many issues distinctive to aging or disability. For this reason, this InFocus deals primarily with home support workers for older people.

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