The caregiver shortage is being ignored

Although the USA is getting older it's still not enough to cause our state and national leadership to address the shortage of entry-level health care workers. Also known as nursing assistants, home health aides, personal care attendants, direct support professionals or in-home assistants. these are the individuals who help developmentally disabled adults and older adults with declining function so they can maintain their health and their functional independence longer. This shortage needs a remedy. In nine years, by 2030, all Baby Boomers will be age 65 or older. According to the CDC, 7% of non-institutionalized people, age 65 or older, currently need some degree of assistance with their personal hygiene. That means, in Erie County, roughly 1,500 older individuals need someone to help them with bathing and/or shampooing their hair and/or brushing their teeth. According to the State of the Nation's Housing 2014 study, by Harvard Joint Center for Housing, 54% of people age 65 or older needed help in the home with a household activity: meal prep, shopping, using the telephone, taking medications, money management, housework and/or transportation/driving. Most who were studied met their needs through family and friends, and 8% relied on a formal service that charged a fee. In Erie County, that would mean 1,716 older individuals need such help. The average wage in Ohio for a home health aide is $11.18/hour. This is according to Indeed, a worldwide employment website used by businesses to hire people. Most in-home caregiver positions are less than 30 hours a week, and, therefore, health insurance is not often included. Therefore, it is fair to estimate the annual gross earnings to be $16,859. The Indeed website does not report if the caregiver/home health aide is covered by workers' compensation, reimbursed for time driving from home to home in their own personal car or compensated for the mileage incurred from doing their job. It would be unusual if all of the above were part of the caregivers' compensation. This explains why there is a shortage. The type of person needed to fill this role should possess many personal qualities. A caregiver needs to be a person who is trustworthy, kind, patient honest, reliable and a person of integrity. That being said, ask yourself this: What is an in-home caregiver worth per hour? How many retirees can afford that cost? I would be interested in your answer to those two questions. If you are willing to provide me with your feedback: • Call 419-624-1856 and ask for Sue Daugherty's voicemail • Send an email to Mail@ServingOurSeniors.org • Drop me at note by postal mail to Serving Our Seniors, 310 E. Boalt Street, #A, Sandusky, OH 44870. Q&A Q: Is Serving Our Seniors helping senior citizens get access to the COVID-19 vaccine? A: Those who are Erie County residents, ages 60 and older and do not have a computer but would like to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine should call our office. If you would like us to enter your name onto the Erie County Health Department registration page we can do that for you. Call 419-624-1856 and ask for a senior advocate assistant.