With the current labor shortage, hundreds of elderly residents in Maine are going without the home health care that they need. This shortage of workers is reflected nationwide with long waitlists for home care programs and an average turnover rate in workers in the industry of 60%. Health advocates call for increased government funding for elderly care in nursing homes and home health programs so they can afford to pay their employees a competitive wage. Experts point to the back-breaking nature of senior care, and state these healthcare workers need more money and respect if the industry has a chance at hiring and retaining more workers.
See "Seniors are not getting the care they need with healthcare workers in short supply", Phil Galewitz, NPR, June 30, 2021