Today, there are more and more families who are responsible for taking care of their elderly relatives. This can be a challenging job, but it is often rewarding. However, the number of people willing and able to take on this important role is shrinking.

In the United States, there are simply not enough people available to meet the needs of its aging population. As the American population continues to age, the country struggles to keep up with the growing demand for paid caregivers, with expectations that the issue will continue through 2028. With COVID-19 pandemic this problem has only been exacerbated.

This shortage is leaving families and care facilities struggling to meet the needs of the care industry and there are many factors contributing to this crisis.

Caregiver recruitment is waning and becoming increasingly difficult. According to a survey, over 70% of home care agencies have turned down potential clients recently due to staffing shortages.

The caregiver turnover rate remains high. In a 2018 study, 97% of caregivers said they were open to a new job and 65% reported they’re always searching for new opportunities.

Uncertainties on America’s immigration policy. Immigrants are a vital part of the direct care workforce when it comes to providing care for older people and those with disabilities. One in four direct care workers is an immigrant, and the total number of immigrants in direct care continues to grow.

Unfortunately, uncertainty about America’s immigration policy and the immigration status of many of these workers exacerbate the already critical shortage of home care professionals; threatens the livelihood of immigrants who are providing care, and undermines potential opportunities for new immigrants to help supplement the caregiving workforce.

Finding Solutions to the Growing Caregiver Crisis

To address the growing shortfall of the caregiving workforce, policymakers and industry leaders must work together to recognize the demands of the caregiving profession and the many benefits they bring to society. A few strategies being discussed include the following:

Caregiver recruitment and retention issues can be improved, if not resolved, with:

• Enhanced education and training programs

• Competitive wages and benefits

• Inclusion in the healthcare system

Immigration policies need to be altered to include long-term solutions to the continued shortage of caregivers. We need our legislators to support the needed influx of qualified caregivers for the sake of the nation’s sick, elderly and disabled by exploring temporary nonimmigrant and immigrant visa categories for direct care workers. Resources must also be made available to employers and current immigrant caregivers and future ones – such as access to immigration attorneys who can guide and provide assistance in navigating the complex and constantly changing issues pertaining to U.S. immigration laws and procedures.

One of Ca Care Association’s community partners is Atty. Carmen Villamor, an immigration lawyer from Los Angeles, CA with over 10 years of experience in American immigration laws and has helped over 1,000 satisfied clients.

You may reach out to Atty. Villamor if you are a RCFE administrator, or someone you know, is looking for immigration solutions for providing employment to non-resident caregivers.