Ironically, nursing home work is also one of the fastest-growing jobs in America. While working conditions in many other industries have gradually improved over the last decade, nursing homes have become far more dangerous places to work.
Caregivers suffer an epidemic of crippling workplace injuries.
That problem is a developing crisis in staffing and conditions in nursing homes nationwide that threatens the quality of care for millions of America's most vulnerable citizens. Occupational illness and injury rates for nursing home workers increased by 57 percent between 1984 and 1995, with more than 200,000 injuries reported in the industry every year. Of those injured nursing home workers who must take time off, more than a quarter require more than two work-weeks to recover. Less than a third are able to return within one or two days. Of the 20 fastest-growing industries in the United States, nursing homes have the highest rate of occupational illness and injury.