REDDING, Calif.- The COVID-19 pandemic continues to strain the health care industry. This leaves many families who need home health care services struggling to find care for their loved ones.
Bobbi has two special-needs daughters who she says desperately need a caregiver.
"With my girls, they don't speak, and they don't walk. They need total care. I want to make sure they are properly cared for," Bobbi said.
Bobbi says when a nurse calls out. It's hard for her and her daughters.
"Every day when I wake up, and I wonder who has left me a message that one of the nurses isn't coming to work today. And it happened this morning," Bobbi said.
Elaine Flores, the Medical Home Care Professionals administrator, she says it's not just omicron-related sick leave. Her facility has been dealing with actual vacancies for eight months now.
"We are just having difficulty and bringing on new disciplines for varied reasons, and I think everyone is having difficulty bringing new applicants through the door," Flores said.
Meanwhile, Flores says the shortage impacts other services offered as well.
"When we are short-staffed either from personal care aids nurses or therapists, it's hard to provide all those services to our patients," Flores said.
But Bobbi says she will step in to make sure her daughters are cared for.
"Well, when you need home health care and if you don't have it, you just work as the parent or the provider," Bobbi said.
Flores tells Action News Now her facility is short six nurses and ten personal care attendants, and she hopes to fill those positions soon so more people can get the help they need.Â
