03/19/2021
By Dedra Daigle

Department of Public Health Presentation by Pia Markkanen, ScD, Research Professor on March 26, 2021 at 2 p.m. For Zoom link, email Dedra_Daigle@uml.edu

Presentation title: “It changed everything:" A qualitative study on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the home care industry

ABSTRACT
Background: Home health care (HHC) and home care (HC) services are essential to the health and social wellbeing of older adults, people with disabilities, and the chronically ill. Unfortunately, these sectors are too often overlooked within the larger health care system -- most recently, in COVID-19 pandemic planning.

Objectives: This study characterizes qualitatively the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on three key HC industry stakeholders: clients, aides, and mangers at agencies and organizations. The study evaluated (i) changes the pandemic imposed upon the daily lives of HC clients, (ii) top work related COVID-19 concerns experienced by HC aides, and (iii) efforts that agency managers and organizations made to prioritize continuity of HC services. It is part of a larger investigation of the Safe Home Care Intervention Project funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Methods: The study includes 37 phone interviews with key stakeholders: clients (n=9), aides (n=16), and managers (n=12). The phone interviews were conducted during April – November 2020. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interview transcriptions were coded line-by-line into hierarchical themes with NVivo 12 software.

Results: The fear of contracting COVID-19 and virus transmission among both HC clients and aides were strong themes. Infection prevention and control became the highest priority to guide day-to-day business operations at agencies. HC aides expressed concerns as their clients had shown signs of depression, due to increased isolation. The disappearance of comforting touch – as required by physical distancing practices – has altered the compassion aspect of the aide-client care relationship.

Conclusions: The findings suggest that the pandemic has further increased psychosocial demands of HC aides which can have an adverse effect on overall job satisfaction. Increased isolation of elderly during the pandemic may have contributed to a public health problem that needs to be addressed.