| In the near future there will be a steady rise in the | | | | the choice of independent living. Professional home |
| demand for professional home health aides and | | | | health aides provide a variety of services ranging from |
| caregivers. As the baby boom generation (individuals | | | | live-in care to short-term hourly care. Responsibility is |
| born between 1946 and 1964) continues to age, they | | | | important because aides essentially serve as an |
| stand to dramatically change the population landscape | | | | extension of the family by providing care for the |
| throughout the United States. With New Jersey being | | | | elderly or disabled while offering peace of mind to |
| the most densely populated state in the country the | | | | other family members who can be assured that their |
| need for home health care professionals will be | | | | loved ones receive the care they require when they |
| particularly strong, as the needs of a growing senior | | | | need it. |
| population must be fulfilled. Between 1990 and 2000 | | | | Home health care professionals come from a variety |
| the population of individuals 60 and over grew by 3.5% | | | | of fields including nursing, health care, therapy and |
| to just under 1.5 million and by 2030 that number is | | | | social work. Before seeking employment, potential |
| expected to reach 2.5 million or roughly 25% of the | | | | aides must be certified through the state Board of |
| state population. It is also important to note that, within | | | | Nursing. As the field of home health care grows it is |
| this demographic, the largest area of growth occurred | | | | important to find an agency that cares about patients |
| among individuals in the 80 and above age group. As | | | | and clients just as much as it cares about its |
| New Jersey's senior population ages, the probability | | | | employees. A dedicated agency should provide |
| that they will live alone increases along with the | | | | continual education for aides and caregivers, including |
| probability that they will develop a disability, physical or | | | | courses for certification. It is the responsibility of the |
| otherwise. | | | | home health agency to properly match health care |
| Reports such as this begin to show the growing role | | | | professionals and clients based on fulfillment of needs |
| that home health care will play in the near future. New | | | | and overall convenience. |
| Jersey seniors deserve expert care while still having | | | | |