The Global Caregiver Shortage

Can technology close the divide between care needed and care available?

Fact checked by Jim Lacy

The world faces a growing crisis: not enough people to care for older adults. The global shortage of health and care workers could reach around 10 million by 2030, the World Health Organization estimates. Regions in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean face severe shortages, while other parts of the world are expanding retention and training efforts.

This crisis extends to the United States. “The need for caregivers is rising rapidly,” says S. Jay 

Olshansky, PhD, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois Chicago. Aging baby boomers and longer lifespans drive demand. “Some people living longer need more acute care than previous generations, and there’s always been a shortage,” he says. “Caregivers themselves face health challenges that many people don’t appreciate, and their own health and longevity are at risk.”

Heath Hummel sees the same pattern. He’s the sales director at AIP Monitoring, which sells technology sensors that enable caregivers and home care agencies to support seniors aging in place safely. In the U.S. alone, about 10,000 people turn 65 every day, he says, “and that curve keeps bending upward.

And as a larger percentage of the population ages, long-term care jobs — often low-paid, physically demanding, and emotionally taxing — remain hard to fill. Home health and personal care aide jobs will grow 17% from 2024 to 2034, far outpacing the 3% average for all occupations, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics projections.

Emerging answers

One promising solution lies in telehealth’s next evolution, often called Telehealth 3.0. Instead of basic video calls, telehealth encounters increasingly will blend remote visits with advanced diagnostic tools. Portable ultrasound devices, digital stethoscopes, and wireless monitors for heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels are making virtual house calls possible.

“There are so many technologies people don’t even know about,” Hummel says. “These products can give independence to seniors and peace of mind to families.” 

Olshansky agrees that technology will continue to transform home care. “AI and technology can help people care for themselves, avoid the need for caregivers, or at least lessen the difficulty that caregivers go through,” he says.

Home health nurses could soon oversee complex monitoring from afar, with assistance from artificial intelligence that flags subtle changes in a person’s condition. Today’s sensors go far beyond old emergency pendants. 

“A bed sensor can track sleep without anyone noticing it,” Hummel says. 

“A refrigerator sensor can tell you that mom is up and eating. These are simple tools, but they matter.” 

Many countries rely on migrant labor to fill care gaps. In the U.S., immigrant caregivers already make up a significant share of the direct-care workforce, according to a 2024 Harvard Medical School study. They make up 1 in 3 workers (32%) in home care settings, 21% in nursing facilities, and 24% in residential care settings, according to KFF, an independent health policy research organization. 

Yet despite their critical role in meeting rising demand, they often face barriers to training, advancement, and fair pay.

Restricting immigration could worsen the problem. “If immigrants are serving as primary or secondary caregivers,” Olshansky says, referring to recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts, “then we’re going to run into [bigger] problems.”

Experts say policy reforms must ensure equitable wages, legal protections, and standardized training to professionalize caregiving rather than treat it as disposable labor.

Another emerging idea borrows from ride-share and delivery platforms: on-demand caregiving. Startups in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., such as Honor, Home Instead, and AgingCare, connect families with vetted caregivers for short shifts or respite hours. The model offers flexibility and access, but critics worry it could erode consistency and oversight.

“There are so many technologies people don’t even know about,” Hummel says. “These products can give independence to seniors and peace of mind to families.”

Olshansky also sees robotics as a complementary solution. “Robotics is likely to be the wave of the future,” he says. “They don’t tire. They don’t deal with stress, and they could help with tasks like cleaning, cooking, and medication management.” 

Hummel agrees, adding that robotics and AI-driven systems are arriving sooner than many expect. “You’ll see robots helping people get out of chairs or keeping them company,” he says. “It’s going to be here a lot faster than people think.”

Technology’s promise — and limits

Yet, technology comes with challenges. “Older adults, especially those in their 80s, didn’t grow up with computers or technology. They’re often not savvy enough to know what risks they take using devices like Alexa or Google Mini,” says Naoko Muramatsu, PhD, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois Chicago.

“Lots of issues — privacy, autonomy. Smart devices are listening, even when you don’t activate them. People don’t know what companies are collecting. That’s my no. 1 concern,” Muramatsu says. Convenience often overrides concerns, she adds, which is why people need ongoing tech education.

“Home care workers are busy, often low-paid, and may not have strong technology skills. Programs need to be simpleenough for them to implement while still helping older adults,” Muramatsu says. 

Hummel echoes that caution. “Overreliance on technology is a real concern,” he says. At least 40% of people with an emergency device don’t wear it, according to multiple studies. “And you can get false readings from blood-pressure cuffs or O2 sensors,” Hummel adds.

Experts warn that further commodifying eldercare could undermine trust and quality. National and state regulators — including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and state health departments — are watching closely because traditional oversight systems were never designed for app-based work.

The shortage also raises a deeper question: Should caregiving remain a private burden or become a shared public good? Countries such as Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands have universal, long-term care programs that pool public funds to cover in-home and institutional care. Six U.S. states have full tax-credit programs, according to AARP. Others are considering caregiver tax credits, subsidies, and paid family leave, all of which AARP advocates for.

Olshansky says new health technologies can deliver major benefits, but access will remain uneven because many people won’t be able to pay for them. “It doesn’t mean the technology shouldn’t be developed, but those deploying it should be mindful of equity,” he says. “Inequity shouldn’t stop the process of developing new tools, just as it didn’t stop medical advances like clean water, aspirin, or sewage disposal.”

Hummel says the motive remains universal. “We’re all trying to do the same thing — take care of people and help them maintain their independence. If the technology gives caregivers better information and families more peace of mind, then it’s doing its job.”

Experts say the most sustainable future will combine public investment, workforce innovation, and technology that enhances human connection — not replaces it. 

“It’s not just about caregivers,” Olshansky says. “It’s about the technology that connects people with caregiving that can be remote, safe, and supportive. That’s where the future is headed.”

Originally published in the Winter/Spring 2026 print issue.