Despite surging demand for long-term care, providers struggle to find workers

Culix Wibonele poses for a portrait on Monday, April 29, 2024, in Lawrenceville, Ga. Wibonele is a certified nursing assistant working in long-term care. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The hardest part of Culix Wibonele’s first job in long-term care was not getting injured.

Originally from Kenya, Wibonele worked as a certified nursing assistant in Atlanta in 2014. She went to the homes of mostly older clients, helping them with everything from bathing to cooking. Wibonele worked alone and sometimes had to lift clients much bigger than her.

It was demanding work and paid only $9 per hour with no benefits. If not for Wibonele’s second job as a babysitter and her husband’s income, they would not have made ends meet while supporting their four children.