There are more than 19 million seniors who are in need of long-term care services but only 2 million paid caregivers in the labor market. Over time, this “care crisis” is only expected to grow: By 2050, the number of seniors in need of home care services is expected to grow to 38 million, while the number of paid caregivers is expected to increase only slightly.
Given the increasing demand for paid caregiving services, it is crucial that the United States expand and stabilize the home care workforce. Unfortunately, research has shown that poor job quality has been a major barrier to attracting and retaining qualified workers. Low wages, insufficient training, and isolation on the job have been key challenges that have impact on both the stability of the workforce and the quality of care that consumers receive.
Please join the Center for American Progress and the Service Employees International Union for a panel discussion on how we can strengthen the care economy in ways that benefit both home care workers and consumers.
Welcoming remarks and moderation:
Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress
Keynote speaker:
The Honorable Andrew Cuomo (D-NY), Governor of New York
Panel discussion:
Judy Feder, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University
Corinne Eldridge, Executive Director, California Long-Term Care Education Center
Pronita Gupta, Deputy Director, Women’s Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor