Home Health Care Providers Paid Fast Food Wages

Home health care workers are paid about the same as McDonald's employees, according to THIS Bloomberg Businessweek article.

"Demand for home health care workers is soaring as baby boomers — the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 — get older and states try to save money by moving people out of more costly nursing homes... Nearly half of all home care workers live at or below the poverty level, and many receive government benefits such as food stamps, unions and advocacy groups say. The median pay a year ago was $9.70 per hour — 4 cents less than fast-food workers and short-order cooks, according to the most recent statistics from the Labor Department... Agencies that supply home health workers blame states and the federal government for failing to increase reimbursement rates for Medicaid and Medicare patients at a time when costs are going up."

"The qualifications and training for home care aides varies. A high school diploma isn't usually a requirement, and some states call for only on-the-job training..."