Half of Home Care Workers Have Seen, Experienced Workplace Violence, Report Finds

McKnight’s Home Care | By Adam Healy
 
The majority of home care workers have had a brush with workplace violence or harassment, so addressing these dangers can yield significant positive impacts for providers and their staff. That’s according to a new report on home care workplace safety by Transcend Strategy Group.

More than 50% of home-based care workers have witnessed or experienced at least one incident of workplace violence or harassment, the report found. About 1 in 5 reported having seen at least seven instances of violence or harassment while on the job. Certified nursing assistants, registered nurses and physician assistants were the most likely groups to be subject to workplace dangers.

Home care providers are tackling these issues by leveraging new technologies and safety protocols to protect their workers. The report noted that tools like wearable safety devices or mobile phone applications can help boost on-the-job safety, while de-escalation training and other organizational protocols can also enhance employees’ well-being at work. In a webinar last year, experts from the National Association for Home Care & Hospice recommended that providers use in-home assessments to identify potential safety concerns before initiating care.

Still, about one-third of the surveyed workers said that they do not feel as if their employer prioritizes their safety. However, 48% indicated that they could leave an unsafe work environment without fear of retaliation from their employer.

Transcend solicited feedback from 400 individuals who worked in home-based care. The largest share were home care aides, followed by registered nurses and certified nursing assistants. Most had between one and 10 years of experience.

Some states have addressed home care safety in recent months. Notably, Connecticut passed a law in May that required home care agencies to run background checks on all clients and any other individuals living in clients’ homes. The bill was proposed in reaction to the death of Joyce Grayson, a visiting nurse who was allegedly killed by one of her clients.