Trump immigration cuts could worsen US caregiver shortage, experts say

The loss of protections for Haitian and Syrian workers could worsen shortages of nurses, aides and home care workers The Trump administration may remove the temporary protected status (TPS) of Haitians and Syrians in the US, the US supreme court ruled in late June – a move that will worsen America’s growing caregiver shortage, experts say. The US is now experiencing its fastest increase in the ageing population in more than 100 years, and more than 20% of the US population will be 65 or older by 2030. But the population of caregivers has not grown at the same pace, leading to staffing shortages. Immigrants account for about one in six workers in the US – but they comprise about 30% of caregivers in long-term settings. The caregivers, often nurses and aides in hospitals, facilities and homes, come from at least 163 countries, and Haitian immigrants are strongly represented at 7% of that workforce, according to a report from LeadingAge, the national association of non-profit and mission-driven providers of ageing services. “Foreign-born staff are significant contributors to care and services our members provide, and that older adults and their families rely on,” said Lisa Sanders, vi