One of the big focuses of senior care that has emerged in the post-COVID world is the need for shifting the emphasis of care from the nursing home to a more decentralized manner, such as what in-home care provides.
Employment continues to be a big hindrance to this, however. Although the job market has recovered considerably from where it was even a few months ago, not all parts of the economy have recovered equally. The senior care industry is one of those areas where there is still a big need for more employees to join the workforce.
Gaps in employment for many care companies have led to a shortage in workers.
Different states are implementing different measures to help correct this problem. For example, in New York, Governor Hochul has recently announced that there will be one thousand new scholarships for those that are going to nursing school through the state college system. There’s such a huge need for nurses that focus on senior care that the state is more than willing to pay for the education of those that are interested in this. On smaller levels, county employment programs are offering free training to those that are looking to become certified in some aspect or another of senior care. Other states and communities have begun implementing similar measures to encourage new workers in the care business.
But there’s still a long way to go. The need for care continues to grow, while the workforce is either shrinking or staying the same size in some areas. There are real people impacted by this shortage and unfortunately, there’s still no easy solutions to the problem.
The senior care worker shortage has impacted some people more heavily than others. I sincerely hope that you and your family have not been negatively impacted by this, but if you have, I would encourage you not to give up hope. There are options out there even if they might be more difficult to find than once before.
If you’re unsure of what to do, one of the things that can be done to help your family is to learn some of the skills necessary to become a caregiver yourself. In many cases, your insurance company might even provide this training for you, free of charge. This is one of the first places to start. Not only does it help you keep your family together and well cared for, it can be a cost effective way to avoid the negative impact that a care shortage could have on your family.
If this isn’t an option, get in touch with your county’s social services department. They will have a much better idea of what resources are out there and how you can utilize them to help those that you love. Many public services like this are overburdened, and would be happy to point you in a direction that would help you to take control over these things on your own.
And, as always, feel free to use us a resource, too. You can speak with a care professional at no cost or obligation on your end and get pointed toward the care resources that can enable your family to find all of the help needed to thrive.
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