PHI has released a fact sheet called Who Are Direct-Care Workers (pdf). It details the demographic, employment, and income characteristics of the people who provide an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the paid hands-on long-term care and personal assistance received by Americans who are elderly or living with disabilities or other chronic conditions.

These workers help their clients bathe, dress, eat, and negotiate a host of other daily tasks. They are a lifeline for those they serve, as well as for families struggling to provide quality care.

Direct-care workers also constitute one of the largest and fastest-growing workforces in the country, playing a vital role in job creation and economic growth, particularly in low-income communities.

Some key facts include the direct-care worker at a glance :

88 % Female
52 % Minority
21 % Foreign born
Average age: 41
Median Annual Earnings for direct-care workers: $17,000
42 % Some college or advanced degree
41 % Receive public benefits such as Medicaid or food stamps
27 % Have no health insurance