Tim Kaine: “As our Nation ages, we face a growing need for direct care professionals to care for older adults and people with…”

“As our Nation ages, we face a growing need for direct care professionals to care for older adults and people with disabilities. The U.S. Census Bureau projects the number of people aged 65 and older to more than double between 2015 and 2060, from nearly 48 million to 98 million. Approximately 61 million Americans are currently living with a disability. By 2024, 5 .2 million direct care workers will be needed across all care settings. Direct care workers, such as home health aides and nursing assistants, are the backbone of the long-term care workforce, providing daily assistance to millions of older Americans, people with disabilities, and others with chronic care needs. Direct care workers help ensure that older Americans and people with disabilities receive the critical care they need while remaining active members of their communities. However, direct care workers are often paid low wages and may face poor working conditions and economic insecurity. The majority of direct care workers are women and people of color. Some direct care workers do not have education beyond high school and lack access to a career pathway or advanced training. Twenty-four percent of home care workers live below the Federal poverty level and 52 percent of direct care workers rely on some form of public assistance to support themselves and their families.…”