Northwell Study Found Aides Faced Racism and Violence
A 2024 study of home health aides in New York revealed that a quarter of workers experienced workplace hostility.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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A 2024 Northwell Health study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that 25% of home health aides experienced racism or violence from patients or families. Despite these challenges, 87% of the 224 surveyed aides expressed pride in their professional roles.
Why it matters
The high incidence of workplace hostility contributes to burnout in a field already strained by low pay and physical demands. High turnover rates exceeding 60% annually threaten the stability of the home health workforce as demand for services continues to rise.
The survey of 224 aides highlights a sector with an average annual salary of approximately $33,000 and an annual turnover rate exceeding 60%. These figures underscore the financial instability impacting the workforce.
The players
Northwell Health
This is a large healthcare provider in New York that conducted the study on home health aide working conditions.
Journal of General Internal Medicine
This peer-reviewed medical publication served as the platform for the release of the survey results.
The details
Home health aides, who work independently in private residences providing daily assistance, face significant professional challenges including inadequate health insurance and transportation hurdles. The study highlights that these systemic stressors compound the personal safety risks workers encounter on the job.
Timeline
The survey was conducted from November 30, 2023, through the end of 2024.
Long Island employed 44,770 home health aides in 2024.
The state home health workforce is projected to grow nearly 40% by 2030.
Approximately 9,500 annual job openings are projected through 2032.
Market Landscape
The findings reflect a critical instability in the home health market, where high turnover rates correlate with systemic workplace issues. As labor shortages persist, the industry struggles to retain staff to meet the 40% growth projection in the state workforce by 2030.
Patients and families relying on home health care may face increased difficulty in finding or retaining consistent caregivers due to high industry turnover. Reduced stability in the workforce can impact the quality and continuity of care provided in the home setting.
The takeaway
The high level of reported pride among workers suggests that improvements in safety and compensation could significantly impact retention. Addressing the root causes of burnout is essential for maintaining the care standards required by an aging population.
Further reading
For more on the current state of the industry, visit Nursing Jobs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newsday.
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