Despite surging demand for long-term care, providers struggle to find workers
Despite growing demand for long-term care, the industry struggles with labor shortages, and experts worry about whether there will be enough workers in the future to care for America’s aging population
By Josh Kelety/Ap And Eric Scicchitano/Cnhi News
Published - May 24, 2024, 10:15 AM ET
Last Updated - May 24, 2024, 10:15 AM EDT
The hardest part of Culix Wibonele’s first job in long-term care was not getting injured.
Originally from Kenya, Wibonele worked as a certified nursing assistant in Atlanta in 2014. She went to the homes of mostly older clients, helping them with everything from bathing to cooking. Wibonele worked alone and sometimes had to lift clients much bigger than her.
It was demanding work and paid only $9 per hour with no benefits. If not for Wibonele’s second job as a babysitter and her husband’s income, they would not have made ends meet while supporting their four children.
“My paycheck, you know, was literally just nothing,” Wibonele said. “I was kind of shocked, like, the amount of work we (were) expected to do and the pay you get at the end.”
