Creative forces for retention of home health aides in hospice and palliative care.

Qualities of character and physical capability are essential for the success of a home health aide. The aide needs to be prepared by the organization to provide expert care in various home settings, with patients and families whose personalities, lifestyles, ages, cultural background, and socioeconomic status may be vastly different from those the aide has experienced. This article explores the history of home health aide services as a backdrop to understanding the creative forces in recruitment and education methods, as well as support and team efforts that contribute to having successful careers as aides in the home care setting.