Study: Immigrants help address the US eldercare shortage
A new study by MIT and other researchers finds that higher immigration levels in U.S. metro areas are linked to increased nursing care hours for elderly patients and improved health outcomes. The research shows that a 10 percent rise in female immigrants correlates with more time spent by registered nurses and aides in nursing homes, without displacing native-born workers. Patient hospitalizations, use of restraints, and certain medical issues also decreased in areas with higher immigration.
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Economists find that in metro areas with more immigration, nurses are spending more time with elderly patients. Peter Dizikes | MIT News Publication Date: April 30, 2026 Press Inquiries Press Contact: Abby Abazorius Email: [email protected] Phone: 617-253-2709 MIT News Office Close Caption: “One of the key groups that’s taking care of our nation’s elders is immigrants,” Jonathan Gruber says. “So I thought it would be fascinating to understand how much does immigration actually matter for elder care.” Credits: Image: iStock Previous image Next image Good caregivers are often in short supply, but after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S. in early 2020, staff levels at nursing homes dropped by 10 percent.
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