Study Finds Burnout and Violence Affect 25% of Home Health Aides in NY

A new study found that one in four home health aides in New York State, including those working on Long Island, has experienced burnout or witnessed racism or violence on the job. The anonymous survey, which was conducted between November 30, 2023, and the end of 2024, polled 224 aides at a large home health care agency. Dr. Liron Sinvani, the lead author of the research, noted that the majority of respondents were women between the ages of 41 and 60, who were Black or Hispanic and had more than a decade of experience.

Home health aides constitute a critical and rapidly growing segment of the healthcare workforce, numbering about 3.6 million nationwide. Despite their essential role in elder care, many aides earn low wages, averaging around $33,000 a year with few benefits.