I'd like to start by saying I myself am a caregiver. Additionally, for the past year I've been transitioning into the administrative side of the industry. This gives me the unique perspective of both the nitty-gritty day-to-day and the more global view of a company's process. I was excited to see a book about my industry specifically, not the more common nursing or healthcare, but home care. Consequently, I was all the more disappointed to quickly find the book lacking.

First, I don't know what authority the author has to write on this subject and the overarching patterns. He may have qualifications, but from his language he spoke as an "outsider" and also picked up the subject of the book on a whim. He was just a journalist with no investment in his subject. For something like caregiving, that really shows. Not to mention his position as a man who felt he needed to be the one to write about an overwhelmingly female field. Worse, his use of ignorantly racist language.

I wish I could say more about the content but I quit this book too soon to give a comprehensive review. On the one hand, I kept telling myself I'd give it more pages as a subject so near to me. On the other, I knew it wasn't going to get better. It's like what they say about dating, a person puts their best foot forward first, if that's already problematic, imagine the rest.

e Caring Class Home Health Aides in Crisis (The Culture and Politics of Healthcare Work) (2021) is written by investigative journalist Richard Schweid, who worked with the CHCA (Cooperative Homecare Associates) located in the Bronx to explore the impact of home healthcare. In 2014, the CHCA employed over 2,000 people over 1,000 people owned a share of the business—which serves as an innovative model for a new direction for American healthcare agencies. Currently this form of healthcare is in crisis and must be restructured in greater numbers away from private and for profit corporate interests, that face considerable challenges to serve the needs of average American families.

Education to become a home health care worker (aide is a dated term) is free at CHCA, but applicants must agree to attend all classes, and provide their own transportation and childcare. At graduation, the students earn the credentials for employment. Schweid attended classes and observed the students in the classes, the instructors, and the challenging physical emotional effort proving this low wage work. Many students lacked the skills, education, job experience to attain better employment opportunities, but the CHCA (unlike many for-profit agencies) provides fair pay, health insurance and other benefits that allow workers to eventually move out of poverty. Some chapters include: “Not for the Fainthearted” – Observe, Record and Report – Home Healthcare For Sale – Parasites of the Elderly – “I Don’t Do It For The Money”….

Nationwide, there are over 2.3 million paid home healthcare workers, 40 million people provide unpaid care for elderly or disabled family members. The demand for eldercare in the near future will be astronomical as baby boomers age, and many will need assistance to manage ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living). Healthcare must be assessed on a national level that provide standards of care and fair accessibility, not just for wealthy but for every American in need.
**Regarding education and training: In the state of Washington certified nursing assistant and home health care worker testing is operated by for profit corporate agencies that charge low wage workers high testing fees: the (state board) “skills test” must be taken multiple times (approx. $85.00 USD per test) by the average student. Some students, although they graduate from an accredited nursing assistant or homecare training programs are (too often) unable to pass the skills test, or cover the costs and complications of re-testing, and abandon the profession. It is unfortunate that some nursing facilities will be forced to close in higher numbers due to critical staffing shortages. This is an important and timely book for anyone concerned with the delivery of American home health care and the dedicated workers that provide this necessary and valuable humanitarian service. **With thanks to ILR Press for the DRC for the purpose of review.

Home Health Aides are vital for home health and hospice care patients. Without them as an extension of nursing, an important piece of patient care would be non-existent. This book follows a graduating class of CNAs. It provides a good overview of the history of CNAs role in home health and Home Care, as well as Medicare/Medicaid requirements, and anecdotal accounts. Thank you, Netgalley, and author Richard Schweid, for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3 Stars

Starting from the surprising fact that the largest cooperative in the United States is not linked to farming or agriculture as one might expect, but rather to the area of home health care (CHCA) – the book hooked me from the start.
The topic is not an easy one – with vivid images of old age and the reminder that there is a high chance we will be faced with pains and limitations – it makes the reader confront the crude reality of life, when maybe some of us would rather ignore it for as long as possible.
The author brings attention to the importance of home health care workers and the conflicting reality in the United States, where their role is overlooked and in most cases they are living off minimal wage despite being key to the support group of the people they are caring for. There is also a stark contrast to the growing profits private equity funds are making in the area of old age care.
By mingling in the training class provided by the CHCA (Cooperative Home Care Associates) at their headquarters in South Bronx, the author also makes the book a collection of stories of immigrant women and life within one of the poorest and most dangerous neighbourhoods in New York. I loved the writing style and I think that without the personal inserts from the lives of these women, the book would have been less palatable.
I had to build up courage to read this book, as I knew it would make me face some demons that I try hard to keep hidden deep in my heart. I’m glad I did though and I will be looking for more books written by Richard Schweid.

A story of a often forgotten job, the home health aide. So many seniors depend on them, because they help the seniors stay in their own homes. 5 Stars.

Home health aides do not get the recognition they deserve in society. Richard Schweid is here to change that, by taking the reader on a journey that shows the true caring heart of the people who serve in other people's homes. Everyone should read this to get a better understanding and more respect for everyone involved in health care.