KFF analysis looks at direct care workforce

New data from the Kaiser Family Foundation study looks at the demographics of direct care workers providing long term services and supports.

 

The analysis looked at 2022 American Community Survey data to provide an overview of demographic characteristics, wages and health insurance coverage of direct care workers, which include home health aides, personal care aides, nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs).

 

The KFF report noted that, compared with registered nurses, higher percentages of aides and LPNs are younger, Black or Hispanic, low wage and covered by Medicaid or uninsured.

 

Nearly one in three aides (31%) and over one in four LPNs (27%) are under 35 years old, compared with just one in five RNs (20%). Over half of all aides (52%) and nearly four in ten LPNs (39%) are Black or Hispanic, compared to just 25% of RNs. RNs are the highest paid direct care workers and aides are the lowest-paid direct care workers, with over three-quarters (76%) of aides reporting wages under $35,000. In comparison, just one-fifth (21%) of RNs report wages of less than $35,000.

 

See the full breakdown of the data at https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/who-are-the-direct-care-workers-providing-long-term-services-and-supports-ltss/.