New research published in Health Affairs this month found that many rural Americans who need personal care aides through Medicaid home and community-based services are not able to access services. The report looked at rates of self-care disability across the United States and the supply of personal care aides per 1,000 adults. States with the largest care gaps included Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Arkansas and Maine. Washington State and New Mexico also had significant caregiver gaps. While the study looked at the entire adult population with self-care disabilities, the disability rates among rural adults 65 and older are also higher than their counterparts in urban areas. While workforce shortages in aging services are not news, it is helpful to have any additional documentation to ensure our advocacy and solution finding are evidence based.
