Objective: This paper is a synthesis of research on recruitment and retention challenges for home support workers (HSWs) in Canada. Participants: Home support workers (HSWs) provide needed support with personal care and daily activities to older persons living in the community. Methods: Literature (peer reviewed, government, and non-government documents) published in the past decade was collected from systematic data base searches between January and September 2009, and yielded over 100 references relevant to home care human resources for older Canadians. Results: Four key human resource issues affecting HSWs were identified: compensation, education and training, quality assurance, and working conditions. To increase the workforce and retain skilled employees, employers can tailor their marketing strategies to specific groups, make improvements in work environment, and learn about what workers value and what attracts them to home support work. Conclusions: Understanding these HR issues for HSWs will improve recruitment and retention strategies for this workforce by helping agencies to target their limited resources. Given the projected increase in demand for these workers, preparations need to begin now and consider long-term strategies involving multiple policy areas, such as health and social care, employment, education, and immigration.
Dans cet article, grâce à des projections, nous évaluons la croissance annuelle au Canada, de 2001 à 2031, du soutien structuré et bénévole dont auront besoin les personnes âgées vivant avec des incapacités. Nous y analysons également les implications, sur le plan des politiques publiques, du besoin croissant d'aidants naturels. Basées sur le modèle de microsimulation LifePaths, de Statistique Canada, ces projections intègrent les taux d'incapacité et la disponibilité potentielle d'aidants naturels à l'intérieur des familles. Nous en concluons que continuer à trop compter sur les familles pour répondre aux besoins des personnes âgées ne constitue pas une approche durable. Enfin, nous proposons la mise en place de politiques publiques pour offrir du soutien financier et du répit aux aidants naturels, et nous évaluons la faisabilité économique de ces politiques. This paper projects annual growth rates between 2001 and 2031 in the need for informal and formal support among elderly Canadians with disabilities. The paper also discusses the policy implications of the increasing demand for informal caregivers. Using Statistics Canada's LifePaths microsimulation model, these projections incorporate disability rates and the potential availability of family caregivers. The authors conclude that
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