Long-term services and supports (LTSS) provide persons in need of assistance with daily living activities, help in their home, community, or facility settings depending on preferences, care needs, and service availability. This second annual report, directed by House Bill 1694 (2023), describes supply and demand projections for the LTSS workforce and LTSS needs in Washington State. The 2026 Annual Report contains:
• Executive Summary with key findings and a summary of implications and potential strategies.
• The Main Report with a Narrative Appendix describing projected LTSS demand and supply over the next 25 years in Washington State.
• A Supplemental Data Appendix with additional demographic and geographic detail.
• Data Brief: Who Needs Long-Term Services and Supports Among Adults in Washington State.
We found that demand for LTSS is projected to far outpace supply based on current utilization and employment patterns. Analyses found that wages were low for the direct care workers supplying the majority of LTSS services compared to Washington’s median wage and wages of similar occupations. Potential strategies to address this gap include increasing wages and benefits for these workers from their historical lows and incentivizing new workers into the LTSS field with tax benefits, expanding training and career opportunities, and enhancing public perceptions of the LTSS jobs.
Report and/or Additional Information:
Categories:
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