At present, some 50,000 home care workers for the elderly provide services to more than 100,000 eligible clients in Israel. This study is the first to examine in depth the role of the home care workers who provide nursing care under the Community Long-term Care Law. The goal of the study was to examine the characteristics of the home care workers, their perception of their occupation and satisfaction with their work, their employment conditions, and their professional contact with (both public and private) employing agencies.
The following were among the study’s most notable findings:
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Home care workers have distinct characteristics: Almost all (93%) of the home care workers are women. It is interesting to note that immigrants from the former Soviet Union represent more than half (58%) of all home care workers. Most of the home care workers are educated – half of them have post-secondary education – are relatively older (their average age is 50), and have been in the profession for a relatively short time (an average of four years).
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The home care worker’s occupation is still in process: Training in this occupation is gradually being introduced. Almost half of the home care workers have undergone training in the framework of a course in home care, a significant portion of them during the past year (1999). The findings indicate that their perception of their role ranges from one that is formal and professional (and that requires formal training and special skills), to one that is intimate in nature (half of the home care workers reported feeling like the client’s relative and/or friend).
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There are no differences among employing agencies: The differences among the three types of employing agency – MATAV, associations, and private agencies – are relatively small, and primarily concern the seniority of the home care workers and their conditions of employment.
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Foreign workers who provide nursing care have different characteristics than do Israeli home care workers: The foreign workers are younger, only a very small proportion (8%) of them have attended a training course, and their contact with their employing agency is minimal.
The findings of this study raise questions about the desired direction for the development of this profession. Possible directions for development were examined in light of a broad literature review, which highlights current international trends in home care.
This study was conducted in cooperation with, and partially funded by, the National Insurance Institute.