Caring for older adults is a growing concern in the US, where the population is aging and healthcare costs for seniors are rising.
There are several choices available to those seeking long-term care for older adults, according to the Administration on Aging:
According to the Census Bureau, the number of Americans ages 65 or older is projected to increase from 58 million (17% of the population) in 2022 to 73 million (21% of the population) by 2030. As the population ages, more people enroll in Social Security and Medicare programs. The federal government also projects increases in the number of Americans with certain diseases or impairments, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
There were 15,600 nursing home facilities in the US in 2018, according to the CDC. Those facilities had a combined total of approximately 1.7 million licensed beds. In recent years, revenues for nursing homes have increased due to the aging population.
In September 2023, 1.4 million people were working in nursing homes in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).[1] That number declined for more than two years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2020, nursing homes employed more than 1.6 million people. The number fell to a low of 1.3 million in April 2022 before rising again.
Nursing homes in the US employ a range of caregivers. These include registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, social workers, physical and speech therapists, pharmacists, dietary or nutritional staff, aides, activities staff, and administrative staff.
Around 3.5 million people work as home health and personal care aides in the US — providing care to people of all ages — according to the BLS. Of these workers, 878,310 are employed in home healthcare services, 237,370 in continuing care and assisted living communities, and 47,860 in skilled nursing care facilities.