Can't they get anything better? Home support workers call for change.

A descriptive exploratory study examined the demographic characteristics and working conditions of home support workers in one Canadian province. Four hundred and sixty-three workers, a response rate of 43.5%, completed the Home Support Worker Survey, an instrument designed for the purposes of the study. Workers identified a need for changes to their working conditions including better wages, improved benefits, and a modified work schedule. Since these workers are the largest segment of formal care providers and the mainstay of formal support services for chronically ill seniors, attention to their issues is critical to the sustainability of the home care industry.