This case outlines the efforts of one Canadian planning agency to predict the demand for and supply of home care workers. Home support workers (HSWs) are those caregivers who provide personal care, and do light housekeeping and meal preparation for people in their home who are no longer able to do so themselves. Approximately 1.2 million people in Canada employ home care workers, and the demand for these workers will grow. Let us look at the factors that influence the demand for this occupational group.

The most important factor is that the majority of those needing HSWs are over 65 years of age, and this group is one of the fastest growing demographics in Canada. Another factor is cultural: more and more elderly people wish to remain in their own homes. Health care policy agrees with this "aging in place" philosophy, mainly because it is cheaper to keep people in their residence than to place them in an institution. Demand for HSWs is also increasing because of changes in family structures. Children (mainly daughters) used to provide the services needed for an aging parent. However, most women now work outside the home. People are also having fewer children and these children are likely to have jobs in different cities than the one in which they were raised. Because of these factors, demand for HSWs is expected to double over the next 30 years.

What about the supply of HSWs? There are many factors that influence people to choose to become an HSW. One motivation is the opportunity to serve in a meaningful way, to make a difference in a person's life. However, there are many reasons that people choose not to become HSWs or choose to leave the profession. The compensation is low and not at parity with the same type of worker employed in a hospital, for example. Benefits also tend not to be equal. Working conditions are often difficult, with workers being subjected to aggressive clients (with mental deterioration), occupational injuries related to heavy lifting, and unsafe conditions in the home (pets, smoking, and lack of cleanliness). Also, many of the caregivers are of a different race than their clients, and they report experiencing harassment, racism, and discrimination. These factors influence the attraction and retention of HSWs.

QUESTION

1. List all the reasons that demand for healthcare workers will increase, and the reasons that supply will decrease. What can governments do to increase the supply?

2. What can employers do?