An Analysis of Injuries Among Home Health Care Workers Using the Washington State Workers' Compensation Claims Database

Abstract

An examination of the Washington State workers' compensation claims for home health care workers was conducted. Some comparisons were made with nursing homes, acute care hospitals, and all other industries in the state. Between 1998 and 2007, the average claims rate for home health care workers was 1,375 claims/10,000 full-time equivalents (FTEs) compared to 862 claims/10,000 FTEs for all other industries. The proportion of home health care workers' injuries resulting from interactions with another person (89.6%) was comparable to those for nursing homes and hospitals. Although this industry has important economic and social value, risks are poorly characterized. Continued research is necessary.

Personal service assistance: Musculoskeletal disorders and injuries in consumer‐directed home care

“…By comparison, using the slightly different NIOSH case definition for WRMSDs (moderate to severe pain lasting a week or more or at least monthly), Kim and colleagues [2010 identified rates of 16.6% (Wave 1) and 12.6% (Wave 2) in a longitudinal study of Los Angeles County PAS providers. Unlike studies using claims data [Meyer and Muntaner, 1999;Howard and Adams, 2010], many cases in our sample remained remarkably capable in performing their job duties, with the majority reporting only modest decrements in function and few work loss days. It should be noted, however, that additional factors are likely to limit work disability: in many counties, IHSS does not provide sick leave nor are respite or replacement providers available for PAS recipients; and further, many home care providers are low wage minority workers with little education and few additional job opportunities.…”

“…A slightly higher rate (12.6%) for all types of WRMSDs was reported among PAS providers surveyed in Los Angeles County (Kim et al, 2010, Wave 2). Among home health care providers, compensation records show overall injury claim rates of approximately 13.8% in Washington State (Howard & Adams, 2010) and 5.2% in West Virginia (Meyer & Muntaner, 1999). Unlike studies using claims data, many cases in our sample remained remarkably capable in performing their job duties, with the majority reporting only modest decrements in function and few work loss days.…”

“…Conservatively, the number of paid personal assistance workers approached one million individuals in 2005 and is projected to grow to 1.2 million by 2018 [BLS, 2009b;Kaye et al, 2010]. Continuing increases in assistive services are expected as a result of the surge in the aging of the population, the growing shift of acute care to home settings, and increased Medicaid spending on home care [Kaye et al, 2006;Howard and Adams, 2010]. In California, the location of our study, family members account for over half of paid providers for PAS recipients over 18; whereas for recipients aged 3-17, about 85% are family members, usually the parent.…”

“…The number of paid workers approached one million individuals in 2005 and is projected to be 1.2 million by 2018 (Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS], 2008;Kaye et al, 2010). Continuing increases in assistive services are expected as a result of the aging of the population, the growing shift of acute care to home settings, and increased Medicaid spending on home care (Howard & Adams, 2010;Kaye et al, 2006).…”

Back and neck pain disability and upper limb symptoms of home healthcare workers: A case-control study from Northern Italy

“…to patients than their counterparts in hospital settings, thus seemly explaining the higher prevalence of NBP in HHWs [21][22][23]33,38,39]. Developing or adapting appropriate risk assessment tools is therefore not only useful, but also even indispensable to a reliable understanding of the MSD issue [16,29,30], hopefully allowing HHWs to work healthier and longer.…”