This post is sponsored and contributed by Health Care Association of NJ, a Patch Brand Partner.
Community Corner
Staying Ahead of a Looming Care Crisis
Health Care Association of NJ, Brand Partner
This is a paid post contributed by a Patch Community Partner. The views expressed in this post are the author's own, and the information presented has not been verified by Patch.
New Jersey’s nursing homes face a looming crisis beyond budgets or buildings—it’s about people. Specifically, it’s about a growing gap where more and more seniors need care, and fewer caregivers are available to support them. This growing imbalance is known as the “workforce cliff.”
It’s a Math Problem
The number of New Jersey residents aged 65 and over increased by 31% between 2010 and 2023, and the US Census Bureau estimates that nearly a quarter of New Jersey's population will be 60 and older by 2030, a 30% increase from 2012.
At the same time, the number of working-age adults—those most likely to serve as caregivers—is flat.
Even today, nursing homes struggle to fill critical roles for direct care positions such as aides and nurses, and demographic trends ahead will only make things worse.
The workforce cliff isn’t a temporary problem. It’s a growing crisis driven by simple math: more people need care, but there aren’t enough caregivers to meet the demand. Solving it requires bold, long-term solutions that rise to the scale of the challenge.
Building the Bridge: What Must Happen
The solutions must be multi-faceted and long-term, including:
Respecting Our Workforce
Caregivers deserve to know that the system values them. This means promoting policies that protect working conditions, fund continuing education, and recognize caregivers as essential health professionals, not just as support staff. The Health Care Association of New Jersey provides ongoing training and collaborates with national organizations like the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living to ensure members and staff have the latest tools and knowledge to deliver high-quality care.
Increasing Medicaid Payment Rates
Medicaid is the primary payer for most nursing home residents. Yet Medicaid covers only 82 cents for every $1 nursing homes spend caring for Medicaid recipients — far below the actual cost of care. Without higher rates, we can’t offer competitive wages compared to other healthcare settings, putting nursing homes at a disadvantage and risking the quality of care.
Community Engagement
Every day, skilled nursing facilities find creative ways to build stronger connections with residents and the community. For example, Champion Care launched Champion’s Got Talent, a singing competition that brings residents and staff together to celebrate music, healing, and human connection. Many facilities also host regular activities, classes, birthday and holiday celebrations, and invite community members to join residents for shared meals and events, helping seniors stay engaged, active, and connected.
Embracing Smart Technology and Innovation
Technology should support, not replace, human caregivers. However, technology can lighten the load on staff by reducing burdens like physical tasks and paperwork, giving caregivers more time to focus on what matters most — meaningful, personal care. Our member facilities are already using tools like AI-powered fall detection systems, wearable health monitors, and telehealth platforms that can enhance the quality of care and reduce physical demands on staff.
Growing the Workforce While Working Smarter Together
Attracting, training, and paying caregivers better is essential, but it won’t be enough. We must also innovate to deliver excellent care with the workforce we currently have.
This means making better use of data and technology to maximize staff efficiency, allowing caregivers to spend less time on paperwork and more time with residents. It also means rethinking outdated regulatory structures that burden staff with excessive administrative tasks that take them away from the bedside. And it requires a modernized Medicaid payment system that directs resources to where they are needed most, ensuring that care is both high-quality and sustainable.
Our members are already deploying innovative solutions—from AI-powered fall detection to remote health monitoring—to enhance safety and quality of care while easing staff workloads. But real innovation requires more than industry effort alone.
We are on the front lines of this crisis every day, and we’re ready to lead. What we need now is for our regulatory partners to join us in that effort. With open communication, flexible thinking, and a shared commitment to seniors, we can build a system that works better for everyone.
The Time To Act Is Now
The workforce cliff isn't coming—it's already here. We must confront this crisis head-on—before the workforce cliff becomes a freefall. With smart investment, innovation, community commitment, and partnership, now is our moment to build a stronger future for long-term care.
Andy Aronson is the President and CEO of the Health Care Association of New Jersey (HCANJ), the state’s largest non-profit trade association representing long-term care providers.
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This post is sponsored and contributed by Health Care Association of NJ, a Patch Brand Partner.