Making Care Work Pay
The coronavirus pandemic has made it clearer than ever that America’s 3.5 million direct care workers are critical to our nation’s health—but that they are not valued accordingly. LeadingAge’s new study offers a glimpse into a different world—a world in which direct care workers earn at least a living wage.
This groundbreaking research captures the substantial benefits that would accrue throughout our economy if direct care workers earned at least a living wage. Using publicly available data and standard economic simulation techniques, LeadingAge researchers found that higher wages would benefit not only direct care workers, but also the direct care field, care recipients, and the economies of local communities in which direct care workers live.
Specifically, higher wages would:
- Increase the financial well-being of direct care workers.
- Reduce turnover and staffing shortages within care settings.
- Boost worker productivity.
- Enhance quality of care.
- Increase overall economic growth in communities where direct care workers live.
Making Care Work Pay Materials
Feeling Valued Because They Are Valued
The challenges facing direct care professionals—at work and at home—are long-term and systemic. They must be addressed deliberately and immediately. Without permanent solutions, our nation simply will not be able to continue providing high-quality services and supports to a rapidly growing older population.
