The state projects the number of home health aides will increase by 32,000 in California by 2020. Demand for home health care workers is soaring as 78 million baby boomers in the U.S. get older.
Ken Erman with the California Association for Health Services explains, "It's a growing need for people to have some level of care giving to help with their activities of daily living so that they don't have to move to assisted living, which is pretty expensive."
A bill awaiting Governor Jerry Brown's signature or veto would require home health care aides and other domestic care works get overtime, 30 minute lunch breaks during a 10 hour shift, and 10 minute breaks every two hours.