For years, the growing number of senior citizens in the U.S. has been a rising concern amongst those that provide senior care services. It has even risen to the governmental level, where laws and regulations have been put into place to help seniors stay safer. There’s still a long way to go, though.
Some communities are attempting to come together to resolve this issue. For example, there was recently a forum held in Kearney, Nebraska, to help address the issues that this community is facing as far as the care shortage goes. In the last year, the shortage of caregivers in this city has become severe enough that drastic measures are needed to help ensure that the elderly folk that reside here are getting the help and attention that they need.
One of the issues that the community is grappling with is the fact that two major care facilities have opened here in the last year. There was already a shortage of caregivers, but with these two facilities tapping into already strained resources by hiring more nurses, aides, cooks, and other service positions, the shortage was exacerbated. Not only are these two facilities not able to provide for their residents in the way that they had planned, but the other care services in the community are feeling the same way. There are more seniors in the community than what the services in the region are currently able to effectively provide for. The expansion was necessary and has the potential to be incredibly helpful, but there are not enough employees within the community to cover all of the positions that need to be filled.
The community in Kearney doesn’t have an easy answer yet. They’ve been creative with staffing schedules and have even hired nurses from other countries to assist. But there’s a record low unemployment rate here and a booming economy that is actually harming the prospects for growth. A final answer to the issue is still off in the distance.
Not every community is in the same situation as Kearney. Thankfully, many areas were well aware of the potential for a care shortage and took steps to ensure that it didn’t have an impact on the health of the vulnerable populations that they serve. Additionally, the employment market in many communities is more conducive to hiring people than what Kearney experienced. The job market has been easier to tap into in some areas than others as senior care positions grow.
This will be an area of concern for several years to come. Those communities that have not yet found a way to attract new senior care workers may find themselves in similar situations as described above. But it doesn’t need to have a negative impact on you and your family. By knowing what your loved one’s care needs are and what the best way to address those needs is, you can take proactive steps now–long before professional care is needed. You may even find that you can provide for some of those needs yourself, or with the joint assistance of in-home care.
If you’re looking for guidance, please feel free to contact us. We pride ourselves in our ability to provide free consultations to those that are looking for help in the senior care world. Reach out today to get the ball rolling and ensure that your family doesn’t miss out on the care that they need.
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