Health Affairs Publishes New Age-Friendly Health Articles in August
Health Affairs has published four new Age-Friendly Health articles in August on issues including the direct care workforce, nursing home financing, artificial intelligence and informal caregiving.
All four articles are part of Health Affairs’ Age-Friendly Health series supported by JAHF.
Health Affairs August issue:
Foreign-Born Workers Made Up Half The Increase In The Direct Care Workforce In Home And Community Settings, 2012–22 by Britainy Barnes and David C. Grabowski
The authors examine a decade of American Community Survey data to track shifts in the direct care workforce. They find that foreign-born workers accounted for approximately half of the growth in home- and community-based services (HCBS) employment between 2012 and 2022. The study highlights the essential role of immigrant labor in sustaining long-term services and supports (LTSS), especially amid declining participation from native-born workers. Policy recommendations include immigration reforms, stronger training and career pathways, and wage improvements to stabilize the workforce.
Health Affairs Forefront August articles:
A National Action Plan To Strengthen Support For Informal Caregivers August 22, 2025 by Kate Freeman, Hope Glassberg, Shira Hollander, Sarah Kolk
This article calls for a coordinated national strategy to support informal caregivers, who provide an estimated $600 billion worth of unpaid care annually. The authors outline proposals to expand financial supports (such as tax credits and direct compensation), provide structured training and wraparound resources, and formally integrate caregivers into care teams. Federal demonstrations like CMS’s GUIDE Model and proven approaches like the REACH intervention offer promising frameworks for scaling support.
Artificial Intelligence In Geriatric Health Care August 20, 2025 by Esther S. Oh, Peter M. Abadir, Joseph Grogan, Ravi Gupta, Anne Ollen, Daniel Polsky, Peter Weems, Phillip Phan
This article explores both the promise and challenges of adopting AI in geriatric care. The authors identify key policy gaps around reimbursement, data standards and equity. Recommendations include developing predictable Medicare reimbursement pathways, creating a National Geriatric Data Trust, expanding broadband and AI training for rural providers, and ensuring community engagement to build public trust. The piece emphasizes aligning AI deployment with the 4Ms Framework (What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility).
Reducing Nursing Home Costs While Improving Care August 19, 2025 by Charlene Harrington and Jeoffry B. Gordon
The authors critique decades of financialization in the nursing home industry, including private equity and real estate investment trust (REIT) ownership models that have been linked to understaffing, poor care quality and excess profits. They recommend stricter federal oversight, requirements for direct-care spending, prosecution of fraud and abuse, and expanded nonprofit and government ownership. A “regulated competition” model is proposed to curb profiteering and ensure funds are directed to resident care.
Visit the Health Affairs Age-Friendly Health series.
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