Just how bad is the home care worker shortage in New York?
A recent report from CUNY estimates that 17% of home care jobs are currently unfilled and approximately 26,510 new aides need to be hired annually just to keep up with the growing demand for care. A further 71,680 workers are needed each year to replace the home care workers who leave their jobs.
What does the home care worker shortage mean for those in need of long term supports and services and their families?
As a result of the extreme shortage in home care workers, there are tens of thousands of New Yorkers who need home care services that are either not getting the care they need or are receiving care in more expensive settings when they could be cared for at home. Too many family members – usually women – are unable to return to work because they are now providing care.
Why is there a home care shortage in New York?
Home care workers are essential – but they are undervalued and underpaid. The pandemic has only exacerbated this, with the high risks home care workers face outweighing the low pay they receive for their work. However, the high turnover and difficulty attracting new workers is not a new problem – it’s the result of long-standing low wages and unstable work. When a client no longer needs services, workers can suffer a dramatic loss of hours and wages. Many workers travel daily between two, three, and sometimes four clients. This means home care workers are spending significant time away from home and money from their already limited paycheck just to get to their jobs.
How do we fix the home care shortage in New York?
Home care workers are joining together through their union 1199SEIU to fight for fair pay for home care – and this is the first step in addressing the home care shortage. We’re fighting for things like a family-sustaining wage, pay for all hours worked, guaranteed hours of work so home care workers can maintain a steady income, and benefits including paid time off. By addressing the root causes of high turnover and difficulties attracting new workers, New York will see more success growing the home care work force to meet the overwhelming demand.
How does addressing the home care worker shortage benefit New York’s economy?
Right now, 17% of home care jobs are unfilled – and researchers estimate that we’ll need to fill more than 980,000 home care positions by 2028 if the high turnover in home care continues. Increasing the wages that home care workers earn to ensure they have a steady income to support their own families will help address worker burnout and attract new people to join the home care workforce. Expanding the home care workforce puts more New Yorkers to work – and enables family caregivers, usually women, to return to the jobs and careers they sacrificed while they were filling in the gap left by home care worker shortages.