Home health aides are dedicated and financially vulnerable

Home health aides provide assistance for activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, but do not provide medical care. The 2011 Genworth Cost of Care survey reported that the national median hourly rate was $19 for an aide employed by a licensed, non-Medicare agency, which was very similar to the national median hourly rate of $20, reported in the 2010 MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services, and Home Care Costs. Results for both of these surveys are based on the responses of administrators of home care agencies. A separate survey reports the view of the aides.