Disability caregiver jobs high in demand

Staffing problem for hospital nurses and other low-level staff has been persistent throughout the pandemic, the lack of Disability and development caregivers was however something that existed before the pandemic as well. The primary role of such caregivers is to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, they help them go through basic functions such as taking a bath, eating, putting on clothes, etc.

This is what Ernestine "Erma" Bryant from Tifton Georgia has been doing for over five years. She is kind of an anomaly in a field that has a high rate of job turnover. Bryant believes that her job is fulfilling as she gets to witness people be successful; this allows her to help people. However, her joy does not pay her bills as she makes less than $10 an hour as a caregiver and is now on the lookout for a second job. Caregiver shortage has massively affected families of people with aforementioned disabilities, the state Medicaid program has approved people with disabilities to get 40 hours of caregiver services which has been cut down to 20 because of the shortage. The Zoller family from Flowery Branch, Georgia is struggling with the reduced hours, their daughter Katie (34) is developmentally disabled and received 24/7 care. Now as the shortage continues she gets less than 60 hours a week, this gap is filled by her parents Jhon and Weda who are 65 and 63 respectively. The parents are finding it extremely difficult to manage their time. Katie's earlier caregiver moved out and the next one took a job at a warehouse, they both get paid much more than before. 

Diane Wilush, CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia said that they have over 100 vacancies for 24/7 care jobs. Many of her programs are unable to offer complete services due to the staffing gap. She finds it hard to compete when retail stores are offering $15-$18 per hour. 

Source: U.S.News