- CARE4CARE - We Care for Those Who Care - Vol. III
- Edited by Maria Luisa Vallauri, William Chiaromonte
Strengthening Home-Based Care: Practical Recommendations to Support and Value Home Health Aides
- Veronika Kuradchik Pekarskaya
- Celia Gago Valle
- Francisco José Medina Díaz
- Ineé Martínez-Corts
- Maria Dolores Burguillos Duran
- © 2026 Author(s) |
- CC BY 4.0
- DOI: 10.36253/979-12-215-1029-4.08
The aim of this chapter is to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving the working conditions and well-being of home health aides; a cornerstone of community-based long-term care systems in Europe. Their role in supporting older people to remain at home is vital; yet this workforce continues to face precarious employment conditions and low occupational esteem. Drawing on the Care4Care project (Horizon Europe) and using the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) framework; the chapter combines quantitative and qualitative evidence from six European countries; analysing job characteristics and wellbeing of home care workers. The comparative analysis reveals both shared patterns and country-specific differences. Across contexts; home health aides reported moderate levels of strain; while also expressing relatively high levels of well-being. Workload intensity; tasks beyond care duties; emotional labour; and social frictions were risk factors that consistently led to worsened health and well-being. Protective factors—such as autonomy; predictability; possibilities for development; and emotional support—were the main aspects of the job that helped mitigate the negative effects of risk factors and contributed to improved well-being. The way these factors manifested varied across countries. Based on these findings; the chapter offers practical recommendations at three levels: (1) policy measures to ensure fair labour standards; regulate workload; and protect workers’ rights; (2) organisational actions to improve staffing; scheduling; supervision; and training opportunities; and (3) guidelines for individual employers—care recipients and their families—to promote respect; clear communication; and realistic expectations in everyday home care. By integrating comparative evidence with concrete recommendations; the chapter provides actionable guidance for employers and policymakers to strengthen the resilience of home-based care systems and safeguard both worker well-being and the quality of care delivered in the community.
- Keywords:
- home health aides,
- home-based care,
- long-term care,
- workplace well-being,
- vulnerable populations,
University of Seville, Spain - ORCID: 0009-0009-8183-9513
University of Seville, Spain - ORCID: 0009-0000-4272-3141
University of Seville, Spain - ORCID: 0000-0002-3657-1716
University of Seville, Spain - ORCID: 0000-0001-7047-3581
Maria Dolores Burguillos Duran
University of Seville, Spain - ORCID: 0009-0002-5275-0586
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Chapter Information
Chapter Title
Strengthening Home-Based Care: Practical Recommendations to Support and Value Home Health Aides
Authors
Veronika Kuradchik Pekarskaya, Celia Gago Valle, Francisco José Medina Díaz, Ineé Martínez-Corts, Maria Dolores Burguillos Duran
Language
English
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1029-4.08
Peer Reviewed
Publication Year
2026
Copyright Information
© 2026 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Bibliographic Information
Book Title
CARE4CARE - We Care for Those Who Care - Vol. III
Book Subtitle
Building Dignified Care Work in Europe: Critical Reflections, Policy Proposals and Practical Tools
Editors
Maria Luisa Vallauri, William Chiaromonte
Peer Reviewed
Number of Pages
408
Publication Year
2026
Copyright Information
© 2026 Author(s)
Content License
Metadata License
Publisher Name
Firenze University Press
DOI
10.36253/979-12-215-1029-4
ISBN Print
979-12-215-1028-7
eISBN (pdf)
979-12-215-1029-4
eISBN (epub)
979-12-215-1030-0
Series Title
Studi sul lavoro di cura - Studies on Care Work