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

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a field hearing on August 2 entitled “Taking Care of Mom and Dad: Why We Need a Quality Workforce to Serve Our Older Americans.”

“I called this hearing today to address a serious problem in our Commonwealth and across the nation: providing access to a quality workforce for an aging population,” said a press statement by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), who chaired the hearing.

Experts provided testimony on the shortage of health care workers, including physicians, nurses, and direct-care workers. They warned that with the baby boom generation turning age 65 in 2011, there will be an even greater demand for this workforce.

Witnesses included representatives of the federal government, academic medicine, a national advocacy organization, home care, and a direct-care worker association.

Senate Companion Bill to the Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act Introduced

The day following the hearing, Casey introduced the Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act, the companion legislation to the House bill (H.R. 5902) that was introduced on July 28 and sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA).

“The number of Americans needing long-term care is expected to double in the coming decades from 13 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050,” Casey said in a press statement about the bill. “The vast majority, 70-80 percent, of paid care will be provided by direct-care workers.”

“As a long-time leader on issues affecting direct-care workers, Senator Casey understands in a very personal way their vital role providing compassionate hands-on care and support to elders and persons with disabilities,” said PHI Pennsylvania State Policy Director Joe Angelelli. “His leadership and concern for fair treatment of home care workers is critical.”

Fastest-Growing Occupation is a Poor Paying Job

There were 3.2 million direct-care workers in the U.S. in 2008. It is projected that an additional 1.1 million new positions will be needed by 2018 (pdf).

The median hourly wage for direct-care workers in 2008 (pdf) was $10.42, compared with $15.57 for all U.S. workers that same year.

As in the rest of the nation, home health aides and personal and home care aides are among Pennsylvania’s top 10 fastest-growing occupations (pdf).

“Despite providing care and services that help millions of older citizens and people with disabilities maintain their dignity and autonomy and often remain in their homes, most direct-care workers receive low wages, little or no benefits, and insufficient training and professional development,” Casey said. “As a result, there are high turnover rates that can compromise the quality of care our older citizens and people with disabilities deserve.”

Testimony from the hearing will soon be available at the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging website.

– by Deane Beebe

The Arizona Republic cited PHI research in an column about the skyrocketing demand for direct care — especially home care — and the problems that could cause for the aging Baby Boomer generation. Read the full story

PHI New York Policy Director Carol Rodat

The Allegany County Community Partnership on Aging joined with Alfred University and Alfred State College to mount its Sixth Annual Conference on Aging, entitled “Dynamic Aging.” Read the full story

PHI President Steven Dawson’s article on the direct-care workforce was published in the March/April issue of Aging Today. Read the full story

PHI Massachusetts Policy Director Amy Robins (L) with panelist and attendees

Massachusetts lawmakers were informed of the opportunities and challenges presented by the state’s rapidly growing demand for direct-care workers at a legislative briefing held on May 5. Read the full story