[Answered]: What solutions might be introduced to alleviate…

What solutions might be introduced to alleviate the shortage of long-term care workers? As the world’s population ages, estimates are that there will be a need for 4.2 formal long-term care workers per 100 people aged 65 years or older (1). To alleviate the shortage of formal long-term care workers, good working conditions, employer-paid health coverage, and opportunities for professional growth must be established. Wages need to be competitive based on education and performance. Quality of care and performance of formal long-term workers greatly depend on provider-to-patient ratios. Suitable staffing will provide attractive and safe working conditions, leading to the retention of formal caregivers and improved patient outcomes (1). Informal caregivers should enjoy similar benefits with monetary reimbursement for lost wages due to caregiving responsibilities, health insurance, and education to enrich their skills. In addition to financial support, psychological/mental support hotlines should be available for informal/family caregivers. Further, expanding the workforce by hiring migrant workers could alleviate the shortage of workers in the long-care facilities. Migrant workers may need training and education programs to prepare them to enter long-term care as caregivers. Immigrant workforce needs may vary based on their backgrounds and the education they acquired in their native countries. Migrant workers may need to start by learning English, acquiring basic computer skills, and integrating into the new culture and economy. They may also need to enter career education and training to obtain skills needed for caring for elderly people. Long-term care facilities must promote a culture of inclusiveness and collaboration to make migrant workers feel welcome. Wages cannot be discriminatory based on race/ethnicity/immigration status. Migrant workers in the healthcare industry, including long-term care, should have a pathway to citizenship to commit to staying in the country and supporting the much-n