The Ohio Caregiver Crisis

What is the Caregiver Crisis?

The Ohio Caregiver Crisis is at an extreme! With more people in their sixties than any other age in Ohio, it will only get worse due to the rise of the Baby Boomer generation needing care. According to Al-Jen Poo’s groundbreaking book The Age of Dignity, “every eight seconds someone new needs a caregiver”.

Ohioans across the state rely on caregivers in a variety of settings. There are extreme shortages of caregivers in both institutions and in our communities. Those on home and community-based waivers are getting hit the worst. The impact of the shortage is at an extreme!

Ohio needs an immediate action plan to deal with the Caregiver Crisis. Disabled advocates, family members, and advocacy groups around the state have made the crisis known to the Directors of Medicaid, Aging, and Developmental Disabilities. However, there has been pushback against doing anything that will help this crisis. 

The Dangers of Insufficient Caregivers

Ohio has many systemic issues that drive out our providers, both from agencies and independent. There needs to be a systemic overhaul to the independent provider/direct support worker application process, a better understanding of electronic visit verification systems, and hiring initiatives for providers in all systems. 

In its current state, there are folks that aren’t able to get fair assessments when trying to get services in place for home care. People are being assessed by what they think insurance will pay for, or staff available, rather than what is needed. 

Some people also are faced with decisions of custody relinquishment — putting their loved one in an institution such as an intermediate care facility or a long term care facility. 

Call to Action

Ohio leaders know the hardship faced by many Ohioans and know many prefer to stay in their homes. Older parents especially wonder what will happen to their adult children needing around-the-clock care, as it is difficult to find providers to work in the home, as they help the parents pick up the slack. What will happen when they cannot do it anymore? 

People under 59 in the disabled community struggle to get caregivers as well. There are many who will sign a Do Not Resuscitate form (DNR) before they are ever forced into a nursing home. Some disabled folk, who are involved in advocacy, view a nursing home as a death sentence. 

People should be able to live in their community of choice with the necessary supports possible. This is why Ohio must act now to protect the most vulnerable, which is all Ohioans with disabilities as well as the elderly.