RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does Immigration Improve Quality of Care in Nursing Homes?
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 0720-11063R2
DO 10.3368/jhr.0720-11063R2
A1 Furtado, Delia
A1 Ortega, Francesc
YR 2023
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2023/07/03/jhr.0720-11063R2.abstract
AB This paper explores how immigration can help mitigate nursing home staffing shortages, which are likely to worsen as baby boomers age. We show that local increases in immigration lead to fewer falls, less use of restraints, and fewer pressure ulcers among nursing home residents, as well as improvements in other measures of quality of care. Consistent with a labor market explanation, we find that immigration increases the local supply of workers in nursing fields, with the largest effect on the number of nurse aides - the workers primarily responsible for hands-on care in nursing homes.