View Research by Author - Robyn I. Stone

Publications

Every year Americans spend over 182 billion public and private dollars on services and supports for chronically disabled elders. This is projected to nearly double by 2030 to $341 billion and to grow to $684 billion once the last baby boomers have turned 85. And these estimates don't include the $375 billion in unpaid care family and friends provide-including foregone wages that would have helped support Medicare and Medicaid.

The para-professional long-term care workforce—nursing assistants, home health and home care aides, personal care workers, and personal care attendants—forms the centerpiece of the formal long-term care system. These front-line workers provide hands-on care, supervision, and emotional support to millions of elderly and younger people with chronic illness and disabilities. Low wages and benefits, hard working conditions, heavy workloads, and a job that has been stigmatized by society make worker recruitment and retention difficult.

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