The Workforce Crisis: Why There Aren't Enough Caregivers for Our Aging Population

In the UK, and across the world, there is a severe crisis within the carer workforce, which has been caused by a range of issues that have become more prominent over the years. This crisis has led to problems with the quality of care that the elderly receive, as well as availability within residential care homes.

A House of Commons committee report from May 2025 states that two million people aged 65 and older are not receiving the care that they need. At the same time, care workers are underpaid and overworked, leading to a high staff turnover.

These stats were also emphasised in a government workforce survey for adult social care from 2025. It revealed significant challenges when it comes to retention and recruitment and in residential care. But why have these challenges become so unmanageable, and why are our senior citizens not receiving the care they need?

In this article, we are going to look at the major reasons behind this crisis and what this could mean to seniors and carers.

Immigration policy and elder care

Care for the elderly is tied to the policies surrounding immigration in the UK, as migrant workers make up a significant portion of the carer workforce. The government has made this more difficult, with the May 2025 Immigration White Paper proposal being enacted.

This proposal banned international recruitment for senior and regular carers, meaning that adult social care providers can no longer sponsor new staff from other countries via the health and care worker visa for any of these roles.

This strategy has ended international recruitment on a mass level for care roles. In turn, that’s caused a ripple effect due to the percentage of migrant workers in the care workforce in the UK.

Pay and working conditions for caregivers

Despite the national minimum wage rising in April 2026, there are still huge concerns when it comes to the pay, stress and the working conditions for carers in the UK. According to the National Careers Service, starter carers make around £20,000 a year, while more experienced carers make £25,000 (though this varies depending on a range of factors).

This is around the minimum wage, and even when higher, it’s only slightly more than minimum wage. With long hours, plenty of overtime, weekend and evening working, and very little flexibility, along with the low payout, burnout and stress is frequent for care workers. The result is a high turnover and the profession being avoided entirely.

Impact on the NHS

Carer shortages are continuously having an impact on the National Health Service. Some of these issues and impacts include the following:

• Delayed hospital admissions.

• An increase in hospital admissions.

• Delays in transfers of care.

• A huge strain on all NHS staff, including carers.

• Understaffing.

• Appointment and procedure cancellations.

• Increased backlogs.

Training and professionalisation needs

Elderly care depends on the skills and abilities of those who care for them, but the caring profession is currently facing challenges when it comes to the professional standards. Here are some of the most significant reasons why these challenges have taken form:

Training issues

The care sector can often be entered on a junior level, with few formal qualifications needed. This can lead to problems when juniors enter the field, especially when it comes to complex care needs. There can also be inconsistencies in terms of on-the-job training. There are many reasons for this, including senior staff shortages and juniors being expected to engage in care that is far too complex for their skill levels.

Necessary skills for elder care

Workers need to have a broad range of skills when it comes to elder care, and it can be hard to find carers who have everything needed to do their job as effectively as possible. Just a few of the necessary skills include mental health awareness, clinical capabilities, effective communication, technological literacy and safeguarding knowledge. This is a huge amount of expectation, which can lead to burnout and high turnover.

Gaps in professionalisation

Despite so many skills needed for caring (as shown above), the profession is still considered to be relatively low-level labour. Progression can be limited for carers, and there isn’t even a legal registration requirement for care workers in the UK (as of 2025). This can make caring feel less appreciated than other roles, such as nurses and doctors, despite all the work and effort that is needed to do the job.

Future outlook and solutions

The future of caring could become all the more difficult if these issues continue. Without a proper rework of the system, there could be rising costs, more pressure, worse care and greater shortages of care staff. The UK government is attempting to create a shift in the NHS to focus on several issues, including the pressures faced by care staff.

The 10-Year Plan for the NHS includes the introduction of the Neighbourhood Health Service, one-stop shops that integrate various medical teams while focusing on local care. The NHS app is also set to become a more significant digital tool when it comes to supporting independent living.

These are just a few of the ways that the UK government is hoping to tackle the issues that carers and the elderly community are facing, but there is still a long way to go.

Personal alarms for the elderly who need care

When it comes to ways to maintain security for seniors who require care, personal alarms are a great choice. These devices offer a safety net which ensures that the minds of friends and families of elders in care can be put to rest. Carers can also relieve some of the pressure of their profession, knowing that any seniors in their care are protected and can call for help if an emergency occurs when they are left alone.

Learn more about SureSafe personal alarms for elders in care

No matter how well cared for the senior or seniors in your life might be, it’s hard to avoid worrying about them if they are being cared for away from their family and friends. As mentioned, personal alarms offer peace of mind, but they are also a practical tool. SureSafe is a particularly versatile personal alarm brand, offering plenty of choice when it comes to features, along with a strong focus on portability and monitoring options.

SureSafe devices provide simple to use and affordable protection for elders in care, offering a range of features including 24/7 monitoring and the ability to talk to your contacts or our response centre directly through the alarm.

To learn more about how SureSafe can offer safety and peace of mind while you, your employees, or your loved ones are at work, give us a call at 0800 112 3201 or try our live chat. You can also request a call back via our easy online form.