Personal support workers, nurses, therapists, and aides form the core of home care. Their work allows older adults to remain at home with dignity. Yet this workforce faces constant strain — and without solutions, the entire system is at risk.
Challenges in the Field
Low pay, high stress, limited benefits, and irregular hours make recruitment and retention difficult. Many workers juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet, leading to burnout and turnover that directly affect quality of care.
The Growing Demand
As populations age, demand for home care rises while the workforce struggles to keep up. Without sustainable staffing, waitlists grow longer, families shoulder more responsibility, and elders lose the chance to age in place.
Paths Forward
Solutions include better wages and benefits, clearer career pathways, training and professional recognition, and stronger mental health supports for caregivers. Some regions are also testing innovations like team-based care models and technology to ease workloads.
The Question
If home care depends on the people providing it, then workforce stability is non-negotiable. Which leaves us to ask: how can we build a home care workforce that is valued, supported, and strong enough to meet the needs of an aging population?
Workforce Challenges and Solutions
The Backbone of Home Care
Personal support workers, nurses, therapists, and aides form the core of home care. Their work allows older adults to remain at home with dignity. Yet this workforce faces constant strain — and without solutions, the entire system is at risk.
Challenges in the Field
Low pay, high stress, limited benefits, and irregular hours make recruitment and retention difficult. Many workers juggle multiple jobs just to make ends meet, leading to burnout and turnover that directly affect quality of care.
The Growing Demand
As populations age, demand for home care rises while the workforce struggles to keep up. Without sustainable staffing, waitlists grow longer, families shoulder more responsibility, and elders lose the chance to age in place.
Paths Forward
Solutions include better wages and benefits, clearer career pathways, training and professional recognition, and stronger mental health supports for caregivers. Some regions are also testing innovations like team-based care models and technology to ease workloads.
The Question
If home care depends on the people providing it, then workforce stability is non-negotiable. Which leaves us to ask:
how can we build a home care workforce that is valued, supported, and strong enough to meet the needs of an aging population?