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Long-term care facilities facing diversity challenges in upper management

The elderly care industry is about to boom — mainly because there are about to be so many more people over the age of 65 in the country. The latest census numbers show that will be more than 77 million by 2035.

But there are big issues facing that industry.

Burnout, low pay, high turnover — and diversity. While the frontline workers who are taking care of people every day are a very diverse group, those in leadership in long-term care are predominantly white.

Longtime Phoenix writer Robrt Pela recently wrote about this for Next Avenue, which focuses on covering issues on aging. 

The Show spoke with him to learn about his findings, beginning with what it’s like to work in the long-term care industry and just how hard it can be.

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.