Skilled Health Providers Help Provide Quality Care in Long-Term Care Settings
You’ve probably noticed it. Getting a doctor’s appointment can take weeks, sometimes longer, and the visit often feels rushed. If you care for an aging parent, the level of frustration is even greater. More adults are living longer with chronic health conditions, and the healthcare system isn’t keeping up with the growing demand for services.
That’s one reason why skilled healthcare providers, especially those with advanced training such as APRN nursing (nurse practitioners and physician assistants), are becoming essential in both primary care and long-term care settings.
These professionals help fill gaps, provide routine check-ups, provide hands-on monitoring, and support physicians in delivering the growing number of services that older adults require.
This trend has powerful effects on access to care, quality of life, and long-term care planning—especially as workforce shortages and an aging population reshape healthcare across the United States.
Growing Demand from an Aging Population
The U.S. population is aging rapidly. By 2030, people 65 and older are projected to make up about 20% of the U.S. population. That means 1 in 5 Americans could be retirement age.
By 2030, one in five Americans will be age 65 or older. This trend is potentially transformational for the economy, culture, and society in the U.S. —Nancy A. LeaMond, Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer at AARP, in AARP’s Vision for a National Plan on Aging.
Older adults are more likely to live with multiple chronic conditions that require ongoing care, such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. This combination of longevity and complexity increases the overall demand for medical services.
At the same time, many doctors, especially in primary care, are nearing retirement. Nurses and nursing aides remain in short supply, while a growing number of people who need long-term care places added strain on nursing homes, assisted living communities, and home health agencies. Those pressures are making workforce shortages even more severe.
This workforce shortage kind of compounds other shortages … we have to keep people in hospitals longer because the direct care workforce shortage means that there’s no placements where we can discharge someone from a hospital to a long-term care setting or to appropriate home health care. —Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).
Dr. Sarah Szanton, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, warned that the nursing workforce itself is aging just as demand for care is rising. Testifying before Congress, she said many nurses are nearing retirement as the U.S. population grows older and more medically complex.
The average age of nurses today is 54, and 19 percent are 65 or older. That means we are worried about the future, especially as the aging population has more and more chronic conditions. Nurses are often considered the oxygen of any healthcare setting, and as a country, we need to bring in new nurses while also retaining the ones we have. — Dr. Sarah Szanton.
Workforce Shortages Pressure Primary Care
Primary care is the gateway to preventive health, chronic disease management, and early intervention. But too often, there aren’t enough doctors available to meet demand. Federal health workforce research has documented persistent shortages in primary care that stem from the combined effects of an aging population and a limited growth in providers trained for comprehensive care.
That’s where many states and health systems are turning to skilled providers who have advanced clinical education and broad practice scopes.
According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the number of licensed nurse practitioners (NPs) is growing rapidly, and the profession is one of the fastest-growing in health care. NPs conduct millions of patient visits annually and help expand access to primary care services, especially in underserved areas.
Advanced Providers Expand Access and Quality
Advanced providers such as NPs and physician assistants (PAs) can assess patients, order tests, manage chronic illness, and prescribe medications within the scope of state law. Their roles vary by state but often mirror many functions traditionally performed by doctors.
In long-term care and primary care settings, these professionals help ensure that patients receive thorough evaluations, individualized care plans, and follow-up guidance. They are often able to spend more time with patients, explain treatment options clearly, and coordinate care across settings.
A growing body of research shows that when NPs are integrated into care teams, patient outcomes improve and health systems become more resilient, especially for adults with complex health needs such as dementia.
Long-Term Care Needs Are More Complex Than Ever
Long-term care isn’t just about helping with daily activities. It includes managing multiple chronic diseases, monitoring medications, assessing cognitive changes, and preventing avoidable hospitalizations. Each of these areas demands clinical skills and regular oversight.
Skilled providers working in nursing homes, assisted living communities, and home health settings help families feel confident that their loved ones are not only safe but medically supported. Researchers studying workforce demand in long-term care have observed an increase in jobs for nurse practitioners and physician assistants in these settings, driven by the need for clinical stability and continuity of care.
Meanwhile, family caregivers, many of whom provide unpaid care valued at billions of dollars annually, continue to shoulder much of the burden of supporting relatives at home. These caregivers often rely on trained professionals for clinical advice and care planning.
Technology Supporting Better Care Delivery
Technology does not replace skilled care, but it strengthens it. Telehealth, remote monitoring tools, and electronic health records help doctors and nurses track patients more closely and respond faster when health problems emerge.
For example, its use in managing hypertension and diabetes through remote monitoring programs has been shown to help patients better control their chronic conditions in resource-limited areas.
When technology and trained professionals work together, patients get faster answers and more personalized care, especially when a trip to the clinic is difficult.
Plan for Future Quality Care
If you’re planning for long-term care now or thinking about it for the future, understanding provider shortages and workforce trends is crucial. Skilled health professionals are a big part of keeping you and your family healthier longer.
However, the higher the provider's skill level, the higher the cost. While some services are covered by health insurance and Medicare, long-term care needs, including skilled care, are not.
Long-Term Care Insurance can help ensure you have access to quality care in your preferred setting, whether that’s at home, in assisted living, or in a skilled nursing facility. Use tools like the LTC News Cost of Care Calculator to see the current and projected local long-term care costs.
For a loved one who needs a nursing home, assisted living, memory care, or home care provider, the LTC News Caregiver Directory has the largest database of long-term care providers in the country, searchable by zip code.
Healthcare shortages aren’t going away soon. But knowing what to expect and planning can help you protect your health, your time, and your family’s peace of mind.