With more San Diegans aging into retirement every day, there’s a pressing question on the minds of many who care for older adults: How do we inspire more people to work in the senior care industry?
While a nursing shortage has been forecast for years, Fish said the novel coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the problem., the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living found. With an increase of about 4,500 jobs per month over the past year, the organization’s May report shows there are still 189,500 nursing home employees needed to return to pre-pandemic levels.
“Most of health care — including hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, home health agencies — are experiencing workforce shortages that disproportionately impact older people who have more health care needs,” Yourman said via email.
Amy Abrams, Grossmont Healthcare District chief community health officer, said finding geriatric medical specialists has become ever more difficult.
“You can go in as a certified nurse assistant, and you can have two years of schooling, become an RN and make more than double your pay,” Fish said. “Building a safety net — health care, social services, housing, all of that social infrastructure — that supports older people and people with disabilities is a system that is essential to meeting all of society’s needs,” Abrams said.
“I think in the future as we look to the demand for care that isn’t cost-prohibitive, I think technology is going to play a really big role in the role of CNAs,” Girard said.