Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

August 5, 2020

Experiences of Home Health Care Workers in New York City During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

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  • In a qualitative study of home healthcare workers caring for older adults and chronically ill patients in New York City during March and April 2020 (n=33), participants reported that they felt invisible, despite being on the frontlines of the medical response. They also reported a heightened risk for virus transmission; inconsistent information, supplies, and training from their home care agencies; and having to make difficult trade-offs in their work and personal lives.  
  • Home healthcare workers interviewed were mostly women (97%) and Black (64%) or Hispanic (18%).  

 Sterling et al. (Aug 4, 2020). Experiences of Home Health Care Workers in New York City During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. JAMA Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.3930