Members of the CHCA Policy Action Group (PAG)

Members of the Cooperative Home Care Associates‘ Policy Action Group (PAG) met with New York state legislators in Albany on February 23 and 24 to discuss the unfair treatment of home health aides. Read the full story

At a time when many nonprofit organizations are struggling to survive, the New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition (NMDCC) is establishing itself as a strong advocate. Read the full story

(L-R) Ancil Alexander from Cooperative Home Care Associates; Joe Angelelli, Meghan Shineman, and Steven L. Dawson from PHI; and John Hale from the Iowa Caregivers Association

Dozens of eldercare workforce advocates and constituents went to Capitol Hill on September 15 to let Congress know that a strong eldercare workforce is essential to real health reform.

The Eldercare Workforce Alliance (EWA), co-chaired by Steven L. Dawson, PHI president, and Nancy Lundebjerg, vice president and chief operating officer of the American Geriatrics Society, organized the National Advocacy Day. EWA, a broad-based coalition of 29 national organizations representing all aspects of the health care delivery system, supports practical solutions to improve health care quality for older adults by strengthening the eldercare workforce. Read the full story

Dr. William Thomas

Bill Thomas calls himself “a nursing home abolitionist.”

“I want them to go away,” he says. “Our greatest adversary is the institutional mindset. That must go.”

Talk of culture change doesn’t matter as long as people retain an attitude of elders as “the helpless inmates of total institutions,” he says.

Read the full story

One hour into the final presidential debate last night, Barack Obama answered a question about the country’s health care crisis, remarking that the issue “will break your heart over and over again.”

The candidates took this final debate opportunity to mention ideas like putting health care records online, establishing more walk-in clinics, and the need to address childhood obesity.

What they didn’t mention was the issue of long-term care.

Well… The presidential debates are over and the general election is fast approaching. Given the limited amount we’ve heard from our candidates on long-term care, do you have an opinion on who would better address this issue? Who do you think will best prepare America to care for its aging population?

Some facts to consider:

• The population over 65 will more than double between 2000 and 2030.
• By 2016, America will need more direct-care workers than teachers from K-12.
• Real wages for personal and home care aides are falling while worker demand increases.
• Direct care workers are twice as likely to be uninsured than other workers
• Nursing homes lose up to 70% of their workers to turnover each year.
• Nursing aides, orderlies, & attendants are over 400% more likely to experience an injury than the average worker.

Aaron Toleos, Online Communications Director
atoleos@phinational.org