The immigrants caring for the nation's elderly are losing their jobs

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Axios

10 hours ago


The White House immigration crackdown is hitting the long-term healthcare industry, as nursing homes and care providers lose foreign-born employees and struggle to hire.

Why it matters: These folks care for the disabled and for the country's fast-growing elderly population, and they're already in short supply.

Advocates and policy experts warn the quality of care that people receive is under threat.

What they're saying: "We have facilities with empty wings and it's not for lack of residents — it's just for lack of staff," says Robin Wolzenburg, senior vice president of clinical and regulatory services with LeadingAge Wisconsin.

Wolzenburg coordinates with resettlement agencies to fill healthcare vacancies, placing refugees in jobs in housekeeping, dietary services and other ancillary positions that keep facilities running.

Not this year. The Trump administration has suspended refugee programs, and now she's struggling to fill vacancies.

By the numbers: Foreign-born workers make up 30% of the nursing home housekeeping and maintenance workforce, according to data provided by LeadingAge, an association of nonprofit providers of aging services. That's compared to 19% of the overall workforce, per the Labor Department.

More than 41% of home health aides in the U.S. last year were foreign-born, according to unpublished data provided to Axios by the Labor Department.

22% of nursing assistants are foreign-born, and 28% of personal care aides.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/06/18/trump-immigration-nursing-homes