466
Views
32
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

Older Women Caring for Older Women: The Rewards and Challenges of the Home Care Aide Job

, &
Pages 194-215 | Published online: 03 Jul 2012
 

Abstract

As our population ages, the need for personal assistance services increases. Paid personal care is predominantly provided by women, often older women, and has been considered low-status, low-wage work. This article reports on a mixed-method, longitudinal study of 261 home care aides; study participants were 46 years old, on average. Predictors of termination included younger age and lack of health insurance. Study participants reported more rewarding than challenging aspects to the job, though low and inconsistent compensation often forced them to leave the work they loved. Implications of the study with regard to older women caring for older women are explored.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The National Institute on Aging funded this project (1 R15 AG029599-01). The following research assistants provided assistance in collecting and analyzing data: Alison Ashley, Nan Simpson, Diane Helder, Julia Hewes, Meghan Wyman, Dawn Ravan, Meredith Wurpel, and Stephanie Allard.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.