Pennsylvania’s Growing Care Crisis: Workforce Shortages and What’s at Stake

Sep 25, 2025 | Industry Insights

Pennsylvania is facing a turning point. As the state’s working-age population shrinks and its senior population grows, demand for caregiving is increasing, while the number of available caregivers continues to decline. This shift is creating a crisis that could affect access to care for thousands of Pennsylvanians in the coming years.

A recent article in City & State Pennsylvania highlights the severity of the issue and the real impact on care providers across the commonwealth.

The Workforce Shortage Impact

According to a survey of nursing home providers cited by City & State Pennsylvania, staffing shortages are already causing significant disruptions:

  • 53% have limited or capped admissions.
  • 38% have deferred facility upgrades.
  • 24% have placed admission referrals on wait lists.

One nursing home operator explained, “We have had to delay admissions by days if staffing is tight. This requires the hospital to hold longer and backs up the system, in addition to the negative impacts on the resident.”

An Aging Population and Rising Demand

The senior population in Pennsylvania is projected to grow dramatically in the next five years. Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, told City & State:

“We are moving from a state that currently has 1 in 4 people over the age of 65 to a state that will have 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 by 2030. That is a huge shift in a five-year timeframe. We are already in dire need for workforce to meet the current demand, and that does not address the rising demand.”

The Long-Term Care Challenge

The joint workforce survey conducted by the Health Care Association of Pennsylvania (HAP), LeadingAge PA, and the Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHCA), as reported by City & State Pennsylvania, revealed further challenges for long-term care providers:

  • 42% of respondents are limiting or denying admissions because of staffing requirements introduced in 2023.
  • Nearly 2,600 care providers are needed to meet current state staffing ratios.
  • Over 20,000 additional caregivers will be needed annually through 2032.

These shortages are forcing facilities to limit admissions, close units, and increasingly rely on costly contract agency staff. As one expert told City & State, these findings should serve as a “wake-up call” for state officials.

The data is clear. Pennsylvania is entering a critical period for caregiving. Without innovative workforce solutions, access to care for a growing senior population will be at risk. Addressing this challenge will require both short-term solutions and long-term strategic planning to ensure quality care remains available to those who need it most.

Source

City & State Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania caregivers sound the alarm on a worsening workforce crisis, September 2025.

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