The shortage of qualified caregivers is of no surprise to care partners, including people with disabilities, older adults, and those in their circle of support. Headlines such as “Nationwide Caregiver Shortage Felt By Older Adults” or “The Talent Shortage And The Caregiving Crisis” fills the airways heightening the anxiety of people who need assistance and those currently supporting their loved ones. In light of the shortage of additional supports for care partners, let alone quality care, many questions surface, including – how did we get here? And what can you do if you need caregiving help?
It “takes a village” to support an individual with disabilities or an older adult. Quality of life and care can be greatly impacted based on the availability of unpaid and paid supports. As care partners navigate through a widening void of support during this caregiving crisis, there is no single solution to this challenge. It will involve multiple sources of assistance, culture, policy changes in the provision of care, and creative thinking from those impacted by this unmet need. The more we can raise awareness and continue the conversation, the more solutions we may be able to identify tomorrow.
If you need help finding assistance and guidance, please check out the resource links below or search for an attorney in your area to guide you through the Special Needs Alliance. Be sure to also follow the efforts of the Special Needs Alliance’s Public Policy Committee on these and other issues.
