US Home Care Worker’s Access to and Use of Benefits During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolved and more resources , PhD and information became available, state and federal governments and home care agencies developed system-level changes to support the retention of home care workers during the pandemic. This mixed-methods study used an online survey and individual qualitative interviews to understand which pandemic-related benefits home care workers received in unionized states and how workers perceived and used these benefits. A total of 108 home care workers from Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Washington responded to the survey, and 23 home care workers were interviewed. The study found that most home care workers received additional benefits during the pandemic, including temporary financial incentives such as wage increases and paid time off. These benefits were not guaranteed, and the distribution and type of support differed across and within states. The findings of this study provide insights that can assist policymakers and employers in developing policies and resources to support the workforce and enable home care workers to continue providing high-quality home care services.