Chains bring major changes to wages, care in multibillion-dollar market.

Care aides get little to no training for life-and-death tasks

Many PCAs say they feel overwhelmed and unqualified as they struggle to help patients with serious illnesses and disabilities. In Minnesota, more than 100,000 care assistants serve some 36,000 vulnerable patients,

The marketing of home care has shifted into high gear

The once-amicable and highly local business of home caregiving has become a multibillion-dollar industry marked by for-profit franchising and cutthroat competition.

The marketing of home care has shifted into high gear

The once-amicable and highly local business of home caregiving has become a multibillion-dollar industry marked by for-profit franchising and cutthroat competition.

Care aides get little to no training for life-and-death tasks

Many PCAs say they feel overwhelmed and unqualified as they struggle to help patients with serious illnesses and disabilities. In Minnesota, more than 100,000 care assistants serve some 36,000 vulnerable patients,

Star Tribune's Serres, Howatt win Loeb Award for home health care stories

New low-wage job in Minnesota is in health care.

Openings are plentiful in low-wage areas such as home care, home aides.

Want to be a personal care assistant in Minnesota? Take the test

Questions that will help show what it's like to be a personal care assistant.

Graphic: Caregivers, tasks and who pays

Home caregivers' dramatically expanded roll in performing health care tasks in the home and the costs associated with paying for care in the U.S.

Helping the elderly in Rochester area

Children from the Rochester area team up to help their elderly parents face difficulties of old age.

Home-based caregivers under strain

A day in the life of home-based caregiver Teri Sernett illustrates the challenge many face.

Crystal Care owner defends management

Crystal Care co-owner Sally Knutson says other companies made it difficult to transfer clients with complicated needs.

Weak home care rules victimize the frail, sick

Home health care companies, which deploy more than 100,000 personal care assistants in Minnesota, operate without the kind of oversight that is routinely given to licensed care facilities such as nursing homes, and their workers are often low paid and poorly trained.

Independent resources on caregiving and help for older adults

The following are several free and independent resources on caregiving and help for older adults.