US Elder Care System's Structural Inadequacies Exacerbated by Pandemic, Immigrant Caregivers Offer Crucial Relief
Original framing: “Immigrants help address the US eldercare shortage, analysis shows” — Phys.org
The US elder care system's history is marked by a series of policy decisions that prioritize profit over people. The 1981 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, for example, introduced Medicaid's 'home and community-based services' waiver, which allowed states to shift funding from institutional care to community-based care. However, this policy change was largely driven by cost-cutting measures rather than a genuine commitment to community-based care.
The US elder care system's reliance on a paid workforce has resulted in a shortage of caregivers, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
However, this crisis presents an opportunity to rethink the US elder care system's priorities and invest in community-based care models that prioritize the well-being of both caregivers and care recipients. By prioritizing policy reforms, caregiver support and training, and cooperative care models, we can create a more sustainable and equitable elder care system that addresses the needs of both caregivers and care recipients.