Home Healthcare on the Rise
Home healthcare is becoming a more common choice for the aging population. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predict an employment growth of 54% in the industry. Many factors play into this rapid growth, including the COVID pandemic and the aging baby boomer population.
The U.S. Census Bureau is currently projecting that the number of people over 65 will be 21% of the population by 2050, currently the 65+ age group is around 14% of our population. People in this 65+ age range are more likely to need care and more likely to need some form of complex/constant care. The sheer number of aging people in the U.S. population is a large reason that the healthcare industry is growing and seeking skilled and certified care professionals.
Home healthcare is a popular choice for the aging population. Since they tend to be less mobile, having care come to them is both convenient and safe for them. Home healthcare may also be preferred because people feel more comfortable in their own home and would prefer not to uproot their lives to move permanently to a care facility. Staying home and receiving care also allows people to feel more comfortable and relaxed, making treatment easier and safer.
Medicare is trending toward a value-based care model and covering things that control costs while at the same time having good patient outcomes. Some Medicare plans do cover a lot of home health services, and/or provide a high reimbursement for home healthcare related costs.
The COVID-19 Pandemic has also pushed people to look for options other than moving into a skilled nursing facility. Leaving their home to move into a facility with other sick patients puts everyone at higher risk of catching any illness, but especially something as contagious as COVID-19 has proven to be.
As the baby boomer generations ages, it’s more and more likely that people will seek new alternatives to the typical skilled nursing facilities, especially at the rate of growth currently predicted.
Want to learn more about the home health aide job market? Check out these statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm.