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It's a Human Connection: Paid Caregiving in Rural America

Author(s): 

Rayna Sage, Lillie Greiman, Ari Lissau, Susan Chapman, Laura Wagner, and Kirsi Toivanen-Atilla

Date: 
September 17, 2021
Source: 
University of Montana, Rural Institute and University of California San Francisco, Health Workforce Research Center

Personal Care Aides (PCAs) are vital to the well-being of people with disabilities yet there are shortages of these workers in many parts of the country. PCAs are employed to support people with disabilities by providing assistance with basic daily needs (such as meal preparation, bathing, dressing, and housekeeping) and supporting access to the community through providing transportation and seeking out community engagements. Additionally, as the population of the United States continues to age and more individuals experience disabilities, personal assistance has become one of the fastest growing occupations in the US. However, the experiences of workers who occupy these jobs in rural areas are not well understood. See the complete StoryMap online resource.

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