Home care aides' voices from the field: job experiences of personal support specialists.

In response to a rapidly aging population that is living longer with more chronic health needs, increased recruitment and successful retention of home care aides is essential. Insight into the job experiences of Personal Support Specialists is provided through the qualitative findings from a mixed-method mail survey (n = 131). Workers described reasons why they do their jobs (feeling rewarded, valuing helping, and being energized by home care work) as well as the challenges they face providing home care (low wages, along with a lack of benefits, respect, and recognition). Both short- and long-term recommendations are formulated based on workers' narrative responses.