Immigrant workers are essential to the stability and quality of care in nursing homes. More than 1 in 5 workers in nursing homes are immigrants, and they serve in a wide range of roles in nursing homes—from direct care and support services to administrative and operational positions. Their contributions make it possible for older adults and people with disabilities to live with dignity and receive the care they need.
The long-term care sector is facing a significant workforce crisis and the vast majority of nursing homes report open staff positions. As a result, many nursing homes have had to limit admissions, close units due to staffing shortages, or offer higher resident to staff ratios. Ensuring strong worker protections, fair wages, and quality jobs will help to stabilize our long-term care workforce. Immigrant workers are a critical part of the solution, yet they face additional vulnerabilities tied to immigrant status, including restrictive visa programs, uncertainty surrounding temporary protected status, and other shifting policy conditions that threaten both their well-being and the stability of the nursing home workforce.
Join Professor David C. Grabowski (Harvard Medical School) for a Coalition Conversation on the role of immigrant workers in nursing homes. Professor Grabowski is a leading expert in the economics of aging and long-term care. During the conversation, Professor Grabowski will share findings from recent research on the impact of immigrant CNAs on nursing home staffing and resident care, as well as other analyses he and his colleagues have conducted on the impact of immigration on nursing home staffing.