You Know There Is a Caregiver Shortage, But Do You Know WHY?

​HCAOA talks with member agencies every day, and the number one struggle facing most home care agencies right now is being able to hire and retain enough caregivers to meet the demand for services. HCAOA’s new report, State of Home Care: Industry at a Crossroads, released last week, delves into exactly why this caregiver shortage has become so critical.

According to new data in the report,

• By 2040, nearly 81 million people in the U.S. will be 65 years older, compared with 77 million under the age of 18. This means that America will soon consist of more old than young.
• Through modern medicine and healthier lifestyles, average U.S. life expectancy has increased from 68 years in 1950 to 78.6 years in 2017. While life expectancy has declined by more than a year due to the COVID pandemic, the miracle of longevity remains an event to be celebrated. But it also raises new challenges that our healthcare system must be aligned, or realigned, to address.
• Someone turning 65 today has nearly a 70 percent chance of needing long-term care and support. One out of five will need care for more than five years.

​“Take all of these issues raised by an aging America and combine them with a two-year global pandemic that put home care front and center as part of a national discussion about how we will care for older Americans – this, plus other labor and workforce factors creates the perfect storm,” said HCAOA CEO Vicki Hoak. “The release of this report was just the first step. Our advocacy, and the real hard work, begins now.”
 
One of the policy priorities outlined in HCAOA’s report is to support caregivers through recruitment, training, and career pathing, with a goal of changing the perception of the caregiving profession so it is appreciated for its value to society, bolstering training and education standards, and supporting and rewarding caregivers commensurate with the demands of the job and the value they provide.
 
Click here to download the report and learn more about the policy priorities.

Hard copies of the report will be available at upcoming HCAOA events and chapter meetings.

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