Immigration and Care: Who cares for the aging trendy generation? – Retirement Research Center
With fewer Americans, the baby boomer cohort has retired quickly, and it is immigration that has been increasing the U.S. workforce. According to the Immigration Policy Institute, U.S. census data show that the number of primary working-age residents (25-54) born in the United States has increased by only 2.9 million from 2000 to 2022, while the number of primary working-age immigrants (both recorded and undocumented) has increased by 7.7 million. During the same period, the population over the age of 65 increased by 18 million.
Elderly caregivers
Immigration has become particularly important in elderly care. According to KFF, immigration accounts for 28% of the overall direct long-term care workers (see Figure 1). Other studies have reported extensive estimates. As shown in this chart, most of these workers are naturalized citizens, but many are non-citizens.
Restrict immigration
When President Trump ends their protective status in the coming months, a large number of non-citizen immigrants will soon lose their mandate. There are millions of immigration status limited, including asylum applicants, DACA holders, people with temporary protection (including those from Haiti and Venezuela) and parole grants (including those from Afghanistan and Ukraine).
Immigration without documents also plays an important role in providing care for the elderly. While many of them are afraid to go to work during the current immigration crackdown, most still do so because they need to support themselves and their families.
Just when we need more senior care workers
With the age of the baby boomers, limiting the number of potential caregivers at a critical moment. The oldest baby boomer generation will reach 85 years old, when the possibility of aid needs increased dramatically in just six years. Due to this surge and lifespan growth, the proportion of the population over 65 years old who are over 85 years old will double (about 10% to 20%) over the next two decades (see Figure 2).
In short, just as we need more people to be willing to do hard work, providing hands-on care for those who can’t take care of themselves, the Trump administration has made it more difficult for many to provide such care, or to stay in the workforce for those who come to the United States or are already here.
For more information about Harry Margolis, check out his risk in Senior Blog and Podcast in the United States. He also answers consumer real estate planning questions at Askharry.info. To stay up to date on the Squared Blog, join our free email list. You will only receive one email per week.
