Health Equity of Home Care Aides
A project team from the University of Washington Information School in partnership with SEIU 775 Benefits Group conducted data analysis in order to understand and communicate the prevalence of chronic diseases in the Home Care Aide workforce through statistical analysis and evaluation
Who are Home Care Aides?
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HCAs are an integral part of the Healthcare Workforce
The job of an HCA allows older adults and people with disabilities to live in the community and age in place by providing in home care.
Primarily Female
SEIU 775's HCA population is 84% female and 16% male.
48
Older Adults
The average age of an HCA working for SEIU 775 is 48 years old
Diverse
The HCA population comes from a wide array of backgrounds
* SEIU 775 Benefits Group Internal Data
Home Care Aide is one of the fastest growing jobs in the country
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44,000
Caregivers are currently working in Washington State
76,000
Caregivers will be needed in Washington State by the year 2030
Why the Project Matters
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"This project is key to helping ensure equity to support the future of a healthy workforce"
Chronic diseases are defined as conditions that last one year or more and require medical attention and/or limit activities of daily living. Many adults suffer from chronic diseases including a significant proportion of SEIU 775’s HCA workforce. This diverse population of HCAs is also known to historically suffer from socio-economic disadvantages.
The prevalence and determinants of disparities in chronic diseases within the HCA population in Washington State are currently unknown, however, these unknowns can be better understood through the analysis of data drawn from medical insurance claims. Through the findings revealed in the analysis, the SEIU Health Trust team will better be able to create a plan to address these disparities.
