Sherry Baron ^1*, Kathleen McPhaul ², Sally Phillips ³, Robyn Gershon ⁴, Jane Lipscomb ²

¹ National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
² University of Maryland
³ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality?
⁴ Columbia University

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sbaron{at}cdc.gov.

	Abstract

The home health care sector is a critical element in a pandemic influenza emergency response. Roughly 85% of the 1.5 million workers delivering in-home care to 7.6 million clients are low-wage paraprofessionals, mostly women, and disproportionately members of racial and ethnic minorities.

Home health care workers’ ability and willingness to respond during a pandemic depends on appropriate communication, training, and adequate protections, including influenza vaccination and respiratory protection. Preparedness planning should also include support for child care and transportation and help home health care workers protect their income and access to health care.

We summarize findings from a national stakeholder meeting, which highlighted the need to integrate home health care employers, workers, community advocates, and labor unions into the planning process.

Key Words: Health Service Delivery, Infections, Occupational Health, Race/Ethnicity, Respiratory Health

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