We get it; you’re busy running your agency. You don’t have time to sift through the many headlines for the latest in homecare news. That’s why we’re taking care of the digging for you, and sharing the top five stories we’ve seen in the industry recently.

The future of American jobs is taking care of the elderly – November 2, 2017 – Dan Kopf, Quartz

There’s been an increase in demand for homecare services in recent years, especially as the baby boomer generation ages into retirement and more individuals are turning to homecare as an alternative to nursing homes. The shift is illustrated in this Quartz article, which outlines the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ predictions of which jobs will grow the fastest from 2016 to 2026. According to the Bureau, the job of “personal-care aide” will grow faster than any other and “home-health aide” is fourth on the list.  If the Bureau is accurate, these jobs will account for 10 percent of all jobs created over the next decade, which means homecare agencies will have to scale to meet the rising demand to care for the aging population.

A new role for first responders: providing in-home health care – November 17, 2017 – Leah Samuel, STAT

Historically, homecare has been a solution for one of the biggest issues plaguing the healthcare system – cost of care. Homecare is a great alternative, not only in terms of cost but also patient satisfaction, compared to nursing homes or hospital stays. Now, hospitals and insurance companies are trying to come up with a solution to expensive and sometimes unnecessary emergency room visits. One option discussed in this article is the idea of emergency responders providing patients with the care they need in their homes, rather than transporting them to the hospital following a 911 call.

America’s Oldest State Campaigns for Universal Home Care – October 2, 2017 – Amy Baxter, Home Health Care News

We’ve heard about the idea of universal health care, but what about universal homecare? Maine may be the first state to implement this. Supporters of the Home Care for All initiative launched a campaign to provide and pay for universal homecare in Maine. The Alliance needs 61,123 signatures to get universal homecare on the 2018 ballot. After this Home Health Care News article was written, U.S. News reported on November 21st that supporters of the proposal have already collected more than 40,000 signatures.

PA House passes bill on ‘presumed eligibility’ for seniors seeking in-home care – December 12, 2017 – J.D. Prose, The Intelligencer

A new bill that would provide more seniors with the opportunity to receive homecare services recently unanimously passed the state House and is now on the way to the Senate. The bill would ensure that someone who applies for Medicaid is “presumed eligible” to receive homecare or home health services. Currently, individuals who apply for Medicaid are “presumed eligible” for nursing home services and can immediately receive them while their application is being processed, while individuals requesting homecare must wait upwards of several months before they’re approved and can begin receiving services.

Older Adults Open to Robots in Home Care – November 20, 2017 – Maggie Flynn, Home Health Care News

All sorts of industries are going digital – implementing the newest technologies to automate and improve processes – and the homecare industry is no exception. Now, robots are even beginning to gain popularity in the industry. But will the older individuals in need of homecare be open to this innovation? Home Health Care News points to a new study published in the journal Assistive Technology that suggests adults will embrace this new technology.

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