Far-Flung Aides

Currently, I have three aides from Africa, Desma from Oklahoma, and Tammy, who hails from Fairbanks, Alaska.  There were also many foreign aides at the nursing home.  I'd often hear them speaking on the phone in a language other than English.

We can assume these people- mostly women-- didn't come to America because they dreamed of being healthcare aides.  Rather, we can assume they had certain skills, or maybe just a willingness to work in what can be difficult situations, and they got these modestly paid jobs.  For some, I know, it's about caring for people.  For others, I know, it's not so much.

Reforming the healthcare system to better support an aging population should mean better pay and benefits for those who do most of the hands-on work.  If that comes to pass, it will be interesting to see if the immigrant component holds steady, or begins to shrink.