America Will Need Nearly 850,000 More Home Care Workers by 2035. What That Means for Families
America’s need for home-based care is growing quickly, and so is the need for the people who provide it.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of home health and personal care aides is projected to grow 18% between 2025 and 2035, compared with 3% for all occupations. The country is expected to need approximately 847,300 additional workers in these roles by 2035.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects approximately 760,500 openings for home health and personal care aides each year over the decade. These openings will come from both rising demand and the need to replace workers who leave the profession or the labor force.
Those figures point to an important reality: more older adults will want and need support at home, while families and care providers may face increasing competition for dependable caregivers.
Why demand for home care is increasing
Several long-term changes are driving the growth of home care.
America’s population is aging. Older adults are also living longer with chronic conditions that may make everyday activities more difficult, even when they do not require hospitalization or skilled nursing care.
At the same time, many older adults prefer to remain in their own homes and communities for as long as safely possible. Public policy and consumer preferences are both helping shift long-term care away from institutional settings and toward home and community-based services.
The result is growing demand for help with activities such as:
Bathing, dressing, and personal care
Meal preparation and light housekeeping
Transportation and appointment support
Companionship and social engagement
Dementia support and safety supervision
Respite for family caregivers
Recovery assistance after hospitalization or surgery
Home care can help an older adult preserve independence while giving relatives greater confidence that someone dependable is present.
The challenge is not only finding care. It is finding reliable care.
The projected growth is encouraging for the home care industry, but it also reveals a serious workforce challenge.
Caregiving is personal, demanding work. Families are not simply looking for someone to fill a shift. They need a caregiver who is dependable, compassionate, well matched to the older adult, and supported by an organization that communicates clearly and responds when circumstances change.
As demand rises, care providers will need to do more than recruit workers. They will need to retain good caregivers by offering thoughtful onboarding, ongoing training, dependable communication, recognition, opportunities for development, and as much scheduling stability as the nature of home care allows.
For families, this means the quality of a care provider’s workforce practices will increasingly matter. A provider’s ability to recruit, support, and retain caregivers directly affects continuity, responsiveness, and the overall care experience.
Why families should begin planning earlier
Many families first contact a home care provider after a fall, hospitalization, dementia-related incident, or sudden decline. At that point, they may need substantial support within only a few days.
The projected caregiver demand makes early planning even more valuable. Families do not necessarily need to begin care before it is needed, but they should understand their options before a crisis occurs.
Early planning may include:
Discussing where an older adult wants to live as needs change
Identifying relatives who will participate in care decisions
Reviewing home safety and transportation needs
Understanding the cost of private-pay home care
Reviewing long-term care insurance or other available benefits
Speaking with potential care providers before urgent support is required
Considering care coordination when full-time hands-on care is not yet necessary
Starting these conversations early gives families more time to make thoughtful decisions, find the right fit, and gradually introduce help.
What this means for the future of aging at home
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that services for older adults and people with disabilities will add 625,400 jobs between 2025 and 2035, the largest increase of any detailed industry. Increased demand for home-based care is expected to be a major contributor.
This is strong evidence that aging at home is not a passing trend. It is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s care infrastructure.
However, meeting that need will require investment in the caregiving workforce. Families, employers, policymakers, and care providers will all have a role in making caregiving a more sustainable profession.
At Sundry Care, we believe excellent home care begins with trust. That means understanding each family’s needs, thoughtfully matching caregivers, communicating consistently, and supporting the people who provide care.
The need for home care is growing. The time to build stronger systems for families and caregivers is now.
If your family is beginning to consider support for an older adult, Sundry Care can help you understand your options and determine what level of assistance may be appropriate. Visit [SundryCare.com](https://www.sundrycare.com/) to learn more.
Sources
- [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Home Health and Personal Care Aides](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm)
- [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections, 2025–2035](https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecopro.pdf)
