Henry Rothschild Irrevocable Trust Endows PHI for Home Care Training Efforts

— Funding Will Make PHI's High-Quality Training Available to More Home Care Aides —

Bronx, NY — PHI received a $2 million endowment from the Henry Rothschild Irrevocable Trust to directly support PHI's efforts to provide high-quality training and certification for home care workers.

The Henry and Gertrude Rothschild Endowment is the first gift of its kind provided to PHI. The nation's leading authority on the direct-care workforce, PHI has been developing quality training and employment programs for home health aides, personal care aides, and nursing assistants for 25 years.

"We are grateful that the Henry Rothschild Irrevocable Trust has chosen to support our organization," said PHI President Jodi M. Sturgeon. "This gift will expand significantly the sustainability and impact of PHI's work to provide high-quality training for home care workers."

PHI's training model comprehensively addresses both the clinical and interpersonal skills needed for the often complex and challenging role that home care workers play in the homes of elders and people with disabilities who need long-term services and supports.

Home care workers provide essential services and supports such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and meal preparation to millions of elders and people living with disabilities across the nation. These workers make it possible for these individuals to continue living in their homes and communities instead of nursing homes.

PHI's experts design curricula for entry-level programs, in-services, and advanced roles for direct-care workers, and develop innovative approaches to training home care workers. PHI also advises states on how to design and implement updated systems for training and credentialing direct-care workers.

"For consumers, a well-trained paid caregiver can mean the difference between a supportive, empowering daily experience, and one of significant tension, marked by inadequate communication and support," Sturgeon said. "For a client's family members, a well-trained paid caregiver can be a strong, trusted ally in ensuring high-quality care and support for a loved one."

Demand for home care services is growing as our nation's elderly population expands. Home care aides, known formally as personal care aides (PCAs) and home health aides (HHAs), are the nation's second and third fastest-growing occupations. The projected demand for these services will create over a million new jobs in home care over the current decade.

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PHI, the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, works to transform eldercare and disability services, fostering dignity, respect, and independence — for all who receive care, and all who provide it. The nation's leading authority on the direct-care workforce, PHI promotes quality direct-care jobs as the foundation for quality care.

Deane Beebe, PHI Media Relations Director, 718-928-2033, 646-285-1039 (cell)