Long-Term Care Workforce Issues

Abstract

Examines China's aged care workforce and approaches to addressing the shortage of skilled care workers by (1) providing an overview of aged care workforce issues in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Asian countries facing similar challenges; (2) discussing China's challenges in developing its long-term care workforce, including frontline caregivers (in both institutional and home and community-based settings) as well as healthcare professionals and social workers; and (3) proposing some priority areas for strengthening China's long-term care workforce and ensuring they provide quality services that can meet the country's growing demand for elder care. Given the shortage of high-quality workers in long-term care, stabilizing and elevating the status of elder care workers, along with investment in education and training of new and experienced personnel, remain top priorities. At the same time, informal caregivers, including family members and community volunteers, should receive more support, better professional instruction, and appropriate subsidies.