2006 ASPE Report on “The Supply Of Direct Support Professionals Serving Individuals With Intellectual & Other Disabilities (ID & DD)”
The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) examined the root causes associated with the high vacancy and turnover rates of direct support workers (DSPs) and the impact the shortage of these workers will have on the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The findings of this report confirm some of the alarming demographic and financial trends for direct support workers and the people they support.
Five major factors impacting the increasing demand for DSPs:
- The growing U.S. population
- The increasing life expectancy
- Increased prevalence of staffing shortages
- The aging of caregivers and
- The national commitment to, and steady expansion, of community and in-home services and supports.
Some of the key findings of the report include:
- In 2003, there were an estimated 4.3 million (1.5% of U.S. population) with ID/DD and 874,000 full-time equivalent DSPs.
- Of the 4.3 million, 3,849,000 individuals were living with parent or other relatives or in their own homes without services.
- Of the 1,043,000 adults with ID/DD residing with family members as adults, about ½ are unable to be left unsupervised for more than 2 hours. An additional 600,000 DSPs would be needed to support them.
- By 2020, the number of DSPs needed to meet the long term service and support demands will grow to approximately 1.2 million.
- Between 2003 and 2020, the number of individuals with ID/DD in need of residential, in-home and day supports is expected to rise from 1 million to 1.4 million -- an approximate increase of 38 percent.
For a copy of the full 2006 ASPE Report to Congress visit: http://www.ancor.org/issues/shortage/hhs_aspe_dsp_supply.pdf
For additional reports and information on this issue, visit http://www.ancor.org/issues/shortage/index.html. |
