Shortages of health care personnel in the long-term care industry pose critical future challenges to the health care system. Review reasons for these shortages.

Shortages of health care personnel in the long-term care industry pose critical future challenges to the health care system. Review reasons for these shortages.

The value of informal long-term care provided by family members and friends is estimated at over $450 billion annually, more than double the national expenditures for skilled nursing and home care combined. Much of this cost would fall to government if it were not for this informal system. Would you support government assistance for informal caregivers, through mechanisms such as tax reduction incentives, or subsidy for respite care? Why or why not? If not, what alternative measures would you propose to help keep the informal system intact?
Shortages of health care personnel in the long-term care industry pose critical future challenges to the health care system. Review reasons for these shortages. Suggest government and institutional policy changes that might help attract more workers to this industry.