Love Marsha, Tendick-Matesanz Felipe, Thomason Jane, Carter Davine, Glassman Myra, Zanoni Joseph
1 Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA.
2 ROC United, Chicago, IL, USA.
New Solut. 2017 Aug;27(2):225-245. doi: 10.1177/1048291117712544. Epub 2017 May 29.
The home care workforce, already at 2.7 million caregivers, will become the nation's fastest growing occupation by 2024 as the senior boom generation accelerates the demand for in home services to meet its long-term care needs. The physically challenging work of assisting clients with intimate, essential acts of daily living places home care workers (HCWs) at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); yet, HCWs typically receive little formal job training and may lack appropriate assistive devices. In this qualitative pilot study, HCW focus groups described workplace MSD risk factors and identified problem-solving strategies to improve ergonomic conditions. The results revealed that HCWs rely on their behavioral insights, self-styled communications skills and caring demeanor to navigate MSD risks to themselves and increase clients' physical independence of movement. We suggest changes in employer and government policies to acknowledge HCWs as valued team members in long-term care and to enhance their effectiveness as caregivers.
家庭护理人员已达270万，随着婴儿潮一代的老年人加速对居家服务的需求以满足其长期护理需求，到2024年，家庭护理将成为美国增长最快的职业。协助客户进行亲密、基本的日常生活活动这项体力要求高的工作，使家庭护理人员面临肌肉骨骼疾病（MSD）的风险；然而，家庭护理人员通常很少接受正规的工作培训，可能还缺乏合适的辅助设备。在这项定性试点研究中，家庭护理人员焦点小组描述了工作场所MSD的风险因素，并确定了改善人体工程学条件的解决问题策略。结果显示，家庭护理人员依靠他们的行为洞察力、自成风格的沟通技巧和关怀态度来应对自身面临的MSD风险，并提高客户身体活动的独立性。我们建议雇主和政府政策做出改变，承认家庭护理人员是长期护理中有价值的团队成员，并提高他们作为护理人员的效率。
