Stranger in the House

Baby boomers are increasingly relying on nurse's aides, personal care attendants, and others to help them remain in their homes as they age. The category of personal care aide is projected to add more jobs by 2026 than any other occupation in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of these aides enter the home as virtual unknowns, reports the Boston Globe , undergoing no background check and receiving little, if any, training. Consumers often know more about what aides cost than whether they can be trusted. And with demand for home aides so high, those seeking care are simply relieved to find someone to take the job. However, this has opened many homes to criminals, as Boston Globe uncovered in its investigation.