State program adds 250 new home health aides
By: Gene Myers
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... New Jersey's shortage of home health aides has long made it hard for older residents and people with disabilities to complete the basic tasks of daily life-getting out of bed, taking a shower, eating or leaving the house - or giving an exhausted family member a break.
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To help ease that shortage, the state announced on May 1 [2026] that it has certified more than 250 new home health aides through a pilot program.
..... The program is part of a larger effort to strengthen the workforce after years of concern that New Jersey hasn't had enough workers to help people with disabilities and older adults live safely a home.
..... "This pilot project demonstrated that, with the right support, we can motivate individuals to enter this field," Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha said in a statement. "Human Services will continue its efforts to support individuals in joining the home health care workforce, ensuring that residents who require care receive the quality support they deserve."
..... Group homers advocate, Catherine Ghin, executive director of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with disabilities, surveyed home provides in 2022 and found that there programs were operating at 62% of pre-pandemic levels because of staffing shortages.
..... As a result, about 21% of people in the community were stuck at home rather tan taking part in necessary activities like therapy, she said at the time.
..... In his 2023 report to then-Govenror Phil Murphy, Paul Aronsohn, New Jersey's first disability ombudsman, called the workforce shortage a "crisis" and warned that the lack of qualified, trained workers put "unprecedented strains" on the system. He called for higher pay, stronger standards and better working conditions.
..... His 2024 report highlighted abuse and neglect and pointed to under-staffing as part of the cause.
..... The new Certified Home Health Aide Career Program paid for training and helped cover costs such as transpiration and child care for participants. It also added mentoring and training in dementia care and mental health first aid, Human Services said.
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The program was developed with the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, the announcement said.
..... The state said 550 people were accepted into the scholarship program, 425 completed the training and 256 were certified as home health aides. Another 128 people are waiting for certification approval. About 140 people were working as certified home health aides when the program ended.
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The program was supported in part by a $2.8 million federal award to Human Services from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services the department said.
Need for aides will grow
..... The need will only grow for home health aides, who help older adults and people with mental health needs remain in their homes.
..... "New Jersey's older population is growing rapidly. The division has made significant efforts to support people remaining in their homes and communities as they age" said Louis Rush, assistant commissioner for the Division of Aging Services.
..... "Continued investment in this sector can help ensure we have a strong workforce that can meet rising demand and help keep older New Jerseyans healthy," Rush said.
..... The work can be intimate and physically demanding. Home helaht aides help people, move safely through their homes, take medication and stay connected to their doctors, families and friends.
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When they're not available, families have to fill the gap, or people go without the care they need.
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"Growing and supporting the direct care workforce is an investment in New Jersey's future and our aging population," said Kaylee McGuire, deputy commissioner for Aging and Disability Services.