Why do they leave? Factors associated with job termination among personal assistant workers in home care.
Recruiting and retaining an adequate number of personal support workers in home care is both challenging and essential to allowing elders to age in place. A mixed-method, longitudinal study examined turnover in a sample of 261 personal support workers in Maine; 70 workers (26.8%) left their employment in the first year of the study. Logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age and lack of health insurance were significant predictors of turnover. Analysis of telephone interviews revealed three overarching themes related to termination: job not worthwhile, personal reasons, and burnout. Implications of study findings for gerontological social workers are outlined.
Butler
Sandra S
SS
School of Social Work, University of Maine, Orono, Maine 04469, USA. sbutler@maine.edu
Simpson
Nan
N
Brennan
Mark
M
Turner
Winston
W
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D000078329:Workforce