By 2040 , the US Census estimates that the number of elderly Americans over the age of 85 will more than double , reaching 14.6 m , while those over the age of 65 will rise almost 60 % to 82.3 m . The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 3.5 m home care worker jobs will exist by 2024 . However , there are concerns that the necessary workforce to fulfil these needs will not be in place by that time . In California, researchers have found that caregivers who are related to the people they care for have lower turnover rates and provide higher-quality care than unrelated providers. One solution is to transform friends and family members into caregivers paid by Medicaid in a participant - directed home care model . Studies have found that hiring a family member or friend decreases patient stress , provides extra support and results in better patient care and satisfaction . The participant - directed model began in the 1970s , leading to experimentation from the government on training and payment for carers hired by elderly patients . As the need for care increases , the model may become more popular with both private care companies and citizens alike . With technological advances threatening healthcare , offering paid work that keeps patients in their native communities may be a solution to multiple problems .
By 2040 , the US Census estimates that the number of elderly Americans over the age of 85 will more than double , reaching 14.6 m , while those over the age of 65 will rise almost 60 % to 82.3 m . The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that 3.5 m home care worker jobs will exist by 2024 . However , there are concerns that the necessary workforce to fulfil these needs will not be in place by that time . One solution is to transform friends and family members into caregivers paid by Medicaid in a participant - directed home care model . Studies have found that hiring a family member or friend decreases patient stress , provides extra support and results in better patient care and satisfaction . The participant - directed model began in the 1970s , leading to experimentation from the government on training and payment for carers hired by elderly patients . As the need for care increases , the model may become more popular with both private care companies and citizens alike . With technological advances threatening healthcare , offering paid work that keeps patients in their native communities may be a solution to multiple problems .