“Then They Trust You…”: Managing Ergonomics in Home Care

Details

• Personal Author:
  Carter D ; Glassman M ; Love M ; Tendick-Matesanz F ; Thomason J ; Zanoni J
• Description:
  The home care workforce, already at 2.7 million caregivers, will become the nation's fastest growing occupation by 2024 as the senior boom generation accelerates the demand for in home services to meet its long-term care needs. The physically challenging work of assisting clients with intimate, essential acts of daily living places home care workers (HCWs) at risk for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs); yet, HCWs typically receive little formal job training and may lack appropriate assistive devices. In this qualitative pilot study, HCW focus groups described workplace MSD risk factors and identified problem-solving strategies to improve ergonomic conditions. The results revealed that HCWs rely on their behavioral insights, self-styled communications skills and caring demeanor to navigate MSD risks to themselves and increase clients' physical independence of movement. We suggest changes in employer and government policies to acknowledge HCWs as valued team members in long-term care and to enhance their effectiveness as caregivers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Environmental Exposure Ergonomics Health Personnel Home Care Services Men Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Staff Development Women Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Home Care Workers Care Giving Exposure Levels Hazards Health Care Personnel Health Care Workers Home Health Care Humans Injuries Intervention Interventions MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Musculoskeletal System Disorders Patient Safety Physiological Effects Physiological Stress Physiology Risk Factors Safety Measures Training Work Environment Worker Health Workers Worker Safety

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• ISSN:
  1048-2911
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia ; Illinois ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  225-245
• Volume:
  27
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20051526
• Citation:
  New Solut 2017 Aug; 27(2):225-245
• Contact Point Address:
  Joseph Zanoni, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2121 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612
• Email:
  jzanoni@uic.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1345d5a6ce691fe67b202c79b9585b65ee6fed5195efb7d78596c1b9cea28e4d831072a33457413878fcb2c7ecd7d958cd400724a264d396c9676c2c0ab8d717
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211432/cdc_211432_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 148.27 KB ]