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.

Two related resources are also available:

• Personal Care Assistance in Rural America
• Personal Care Aides: Assessing Self-Care Needs And Worker Shortages In Rural Areas, Health Affairs, October 2022.