Nursing Aides, Home Health Aides, and Related Health Care Occupations-National and Local Workforce Shortages and Associated Data Needs

摘要

Nursing aides and home health aides are two of the major occupations responsible for providing patient care of a paraprofessional nature to chronically ill, disabled, and elderly persons in nursing homes and other institutional or community-based settings as well as at home. The challenges faced by long-term care facilities in recruiting and retaining these workers have been increasing in recent years, resulting in reduced services for many Americans. Recognizing the importance of this segment of the health workforce in meeting the care needs of an increasing percentage of the population, the National Center for Health Workforce Analysis (NCHWA) in the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) has commissioned and directed this study. The study concludes that informed workforce planning is needed to document the extent of existing shortages in these occupations and thereby assist states and institutions in addressing them, as well as to assess the impact of present and future initiatives to balance supply and demand.