Who will take care of us when we get old?

The US is expected to have many more older adults who need help with daily activities, raising concerns about whether enough direct care workers will be available. Policy experts argue that immigration could help address the growing workforce gap, while also protecting immigrant workers already in the sector.

By 2036, the number of Americans aged 65 and over is projected to rise from 65.6 million to 77.5 million, while the population aged 85 and over is expected to nearly double to 11.1 million. Estimates suggest the country will need 625,000 to 1.3 million additional care workers over the next decade; a separate projection forecasts 9.6 million job openings from 2025 to 2035, largely because workers leave the field. Proposals including the Dignity Act and Careworker Visa Act would create routes for immigrant caregivers, with worker protections; the Dignity Act has support from lawmakers in both parties.