Between 2013 and 2019, the number of available home care caregivers for every 100 patients in need has fallen by nearly 12%.
The resulting caregiver gap is putting vulnerable patients in a very precarious position, the researchers said.
“We know that the number of people who want to receive long-term care at home has been growing over time, which is in part because the U.S. population is getting older,” explained study lead author Amanda Kreider. She is a postdoctoral researcher with the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.
The demand for in-home healthcare is on the rise, especially as the population ages and more people require medical care. However, the availability of workers to meet this demand is not keeping up, leaving many families struggling to find the care they need for their loved ones.
One of the primary reasons for the shortage of in-home healthcare workers is the low pay and lack of benefits. Many people who are interested in healthcare careers are often drawn to higher-paying positions in hospitals or clinics, leaving a smaller pool of workers available to work in homes.
Another factor is the lack of training and support for in-home healthcare workers. Many workers are not adequately trained to deal with the complex medical needs of their patients, leaving them feeling overwhelmed and unable to provide the level of care that is required.
However, there are some solutions to this problem. One is to increase the pay and benefits for in-home healthcare workers and provide a safe place for them to choose their own working schedules.
Another way to address the shortage of workers is to leverage technology. Call-light, an app created by a nurse for nurses, will bridge the gap where nurses can take control of their professional life and patients can choose their own nurses easily.
Call-Light is a one-stop place for anyone in need of nursing care at home or wherever they are. Clients select and hire their own private nurse/s for their specific care needs via the Call-Light app.
Overall, the demand for in-home healthcare is only going to continue to grow, and it is important that we find ways to address the shortage of workers so that families can get the care they need for their loved ones. By investing in training, support, and technology, we can build a stronger and more sustainable workforce that is capable of meeting this demand.