Giving Home Healthcare Workers the Safety They Deserve
Guest article by Paul Ambrose
Home healthcare workers enter patients’ homes each day to aid in care. Their clients may be strangers leaving caregivers vulnerable as they work unprotected in unpredictable community and home environments. Violent incidents can range from verbal abuse and stalking to threats of assault and even homicide.
Workplace violence is the primary contributor to low staff morale. There’s significant risk and potential for litigation, ultimately resulting in high turnover. Below are just a few of the alarming facts about the industry.
- Of nearly 25,000 workplace assaults reported annually, 75% occurred in health care and social service settings.
- Sixty-one percent of home care workers report workplace violence each year.
- Health care workers are four times more likely to be victimized than workers in private industry.
While the industry has faced this problem for many years, there has not been a solution to help reduce the frequency of these unfortunate situations. Temporary solutions such as pepper spray and self-defense knowledge only go so far in real-life situations. Fortunately, technology continues to evolve. Innovations are being introduced to the market to increase personal safety for workers in all industries, including home healthcare.
KATANA Safety – a personal security system that attaches directly to a smartphone, has recognized the need for increased personal safety solutions in the home healthcare industry. The KATANA personal security system provides peace of mind during potentially vulnerable situations faced by workers in healthcare including visiting unfamiliar homes and being alone with patients/strangers.
The KATANA Safety Arc is a personal safety system that attaches directly to the back of a smartphone. It allows a care worker to trigger an alert, bypass the lock screen, and notify KATANA’s 24/7 Response Center that help is needed. It comes with a piercing audible alert as well as a discreet silent alert button. Once an alert is activated, the 24/7 Response Center will be able to pinpoint the caregiver’s location and provide needed assistance. This could mean staying on the phone with until one regains a feeling of control, or calling emergency services to assist. The KATANA Safety app, a Circle of Seven, includes notification of one’s seven closest friends or family members if one is in a vulnerable situation.
Beyond depending on the latest personal safety technology, it’s important that home healthcare workers implement a few precautions while on the job.
- Be aware.
Keep your guard up. Unlike hospitals, which provide a more controlled setting, someone’s home invites unpredictability. Be aware of your surroundings; especially, the exit routes throughout the home. - Know your exit strategy.
Make sure your car is parked outside with a full tank of gas. A good sense of direction will come in handy. - Have your phone on hand.
Carry your phone with you at all times and let family and friends know your whereabouts. In times of an uncomfortable situation, having your phone (with the KATANA Safety Arc attached) is a simple and effective safety measure.
Paul Ambrose is COO of KATANA Safety, a personal security system that travels with people on their smartphones. It is equipped with a three-layer personal security solution – the KATANA Arc, 24/7 Response Center, and KATANA Safety App. KATANA Safety is helpful tech for enterprises such as home healthcare, social work, and real estate.
Edited by The Caregiver’s Voice
