The National Center for Gerontological Social Work Education devoted its August newsletter to the role that social workers can play in improving the working conditions of direct-care workers, and by doing so, improving the care for older adults.
The bimonthly issue of Aging Times features two articles on this topic:
Are We Prepared to Care? — PHI President Steven Dawson explains that as Baby Boomers age, many are retiring from the eldercare workforce, leaving an even greater gap in care. Dawson calls for a system reform to recruit and retain direct-care workers and increase collaboration between the direct-care workforce and social workers.
Vital Yet Undervalued: Recruiting and Retaining Qualified Direct-Care Workers — Nancy Wilson of the Baylor College of Medicine and Jane Bavineau of Care for Elders provide recommendations culled from years of practice, policy work, and research for improving the supply and quality of direct-care workers.
Aging Times also references:
Social Work — Direct Care Partnerships Would Improve Care, a PHI Quality Care/Quality Jobs Guest Commentary by Nancy Hooyman, a gerontology professor and dean emeritus at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work.
Thank You, Iman, Hugo, and All of the Nation’s Other Direct-Care Workers, a personal account by The John A. Hartford Foundation Executive Director and Treasurer Corinne Rieder on how two home health aides make it possible for her elderly parents who have multiple health conditions to live at home. This blog post in the Hartford Foundation’s Health AGEnda calls for putting an end to the Fair Labor Standards Act’s companionship exemption.
The National Center for Gerontological Social Work Education’s newsletter also includes a Direct Care Workers Bibliography (Word doc), a 10-page list of suggested readings on direct-care workers.
– by Deane Beebe
Direct care experience among professionals, especially social workers and, of course, nursing would appear to be beneficial. Too often the lesson supported by the System is perceived as, Thank God I’ve been promoted to higher pay and less direct care. And for good reason. The System’s formula allows reimbursement for high end paper pushers and policy and procedure where the big money is. Custodial direct care is not reimbursed. The mosh pit of overworked and decompensated slaves will have to do. Find me a social worker, or nurse, that cares for the patients and the direct care workers alike. Find me a facility that actually practices the lofty principles it advertises. Find it for me.