Nursing shortages, a prevalent problem across the health care industry, have hit home care particularly hard. Compared to the hospital or office environment, caring for complex patients in their home requires an unusual skillset that is not as easily replaced. During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, home care nurses heroically delivered care, including vaccines, to isolated, homebound patients. Unfortunately, now nurses are leaving home care in greater numbers for better-paying jobs in other parts of the health care system, and many are leaving Massachusetts altogether for areas where housing is less expensive.
