Millions More Long-Term Care Workers Needed

Good News for Home Health Caregivers

According to a new study, at least 2.5 million more long-term care workers will be needed to look after older Americans by 2030,” said Robert Preidt. “This demand will remain even if there is a major shift from institutional care to home care, according to the researchers.

Study author Joanne Spetz, a professor at the Institute for Health Policy Studies at the University of California, noted that “Filling these jobs will be a big challenge under any scenario.”

The researchers estimated that 20 percent of Americans will be aged 65 or older by 2030. Nineteen million adults will require long-term care by 2050. That number was just 8 million in 2000.

“In terms of sheer numbers, the greatest need is going to be for home health and personal care aides, with well over 1 million additional jobs by 2030,” Spetz said.

The study was published in the June issue of the journal Health Affairs.
Read the full article — www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_152960.html