With workforce issues an urgent priority for post-acute and long-term care providers, industry leaders have targeted immigration as a potential solution:
- In its new Blueprint for a Better Aging Infrastructure, LeadingAge includes support for immigration policies that benefit providers and provide a path to citizenship for workers.
- The Essential Workers Immigration Coalition (EWIC), whose members include the National Center for Assisted Living, LeadingAge, and the American Seniors Housing Association, encourages legislation that provides citizenship for essential workers. The organization also has advocated for reintroducing of legislation that would implement a new pilot visa program for essential workers.
- LeadingAge launched its International Migration of Aging and Geriatric Workers in Response to the Needs of Elders) Initiative in 2019. This includes a temporary guest worker program, changes to the J-1 cultural exchange visa, and new ways to modify current authorities to focus on aging services workers.
