Coronavirus sees uptick in demand for home care workers

As hospitals continue to face an overwhelming number of COVID-19 patients, the demand for home care services is on the rise. More families are turning to in-home care to support their loved ones during the pandemic.

For 90-year-old Betty Anne, home care has been a lifeline over the past two years.
“Home care helps me with everything I can’t manage on my own,” she said. “During the pandemic, I feel safer knowing I’m home and only around my caregiver.”

Eric Pritchard said his family made the same decision for his aunt, who suffered a stroke and heart attack in late 2019.
“She struggled to care for herself after that,” he explained. “With COVID, home care was the safest choice. It’s been a blessing—we couldn’t manage without help during the day.”

Home care providers across the U.S. are seeing a surge in clients.

Jadawnya Bostock, who owns We Care Home Care in the Atlanta area, connects families with caregivers.
“When COVID hit, a lot of families wanted to bring their loved ones home from nursing facilities since visits were no longer allowed,” she said.

According to the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC), the industry has seen a 125% increase in demand for home care workers.

William Dombi, president of NAHC, said the spike began in March and hasn’t slowed.
“Home care is not only a practical solution, but often a safer one for those trying to avoid the virus,” he said.

Still, the job comes with risks.
“Thousands of COVID-positive patients are currently receiving care at home,” Dombi noted. “Unfortunately, we’ve lost some home care workers to the virus as well.”

Agencies are taking extra precautions to limit exposure. Along with standard PPE and masks, many assign the same caregiver to each client to reduce contact.
“It’s not scary,” Bostock said. “We’re careful. Our caregivers wear full protective gear, and if they travel, they quarantine for 14 days before returning to work.”

Though home care workers have dealt with past outbreaks, Dombi said nothing compares to COVID-19.
“This is unlike anything we’ve faced. We’ve seen SARS and bird flu, but nothing as widespread or intense.”

For families like the Pritchards, the dedication of home care workers has made a world of difference.
“Knowing someone is feeding her, bathing her, and keeping her company brings real peace of mind,” Pritchard said. “These people are heroes.”