Caregivers

This evaluation assesses the impact of the "Home Health Aide (HHA) Partnering Collaborative" -- a quality improvement initiative implemented at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York -- in three main areas: patient outcomes, patient service use and aide job perceptions and retention.

This paper was used as a handout at a workshop, held as a catalyst for DALTCP's major new initiative to study ways to expand consumer choice and empowerment in obtaining personal assistance services.

This paper reports the findings of a study to document and analyze selected best practices related to state administered home and community based services (HCBS) programs. Examination of the programs provided the context for examining two interrelated areas of policy interest: how states organize and deliver a range of HCBS within fixed budgets; and how eligibility determination, needs assessment, care planning and service authorization functions are structured and linked to one another.

This resource provides tools, contact information, and lessons learned from eight research projects that focused on providing a more stable and qualified workforce. These projects, including state demonstrations and applied research and evaluation programs, are part of the four-year, $15.5 million Better Jobs Better Care initiative. The report compiles the major findings, and the resource catalog provides surveys, policy analyses, training and assessment materials, and many more practical tools.

Transitioning out of a care facility can be a challenging time for patients and their caregivers. This checklist will help these people and their support workers plan ahead of the discharge to ensure everyone involved understands the patient’s needs and can avoid any interruption in care. The resource also includes instructions and contact information for finding appropriate support from local, state, and federal agencies.

In Los Angeles County, personal care workers (PCW) that meet eligibility requirements can receive healthcare benefits. Since 2003, the Personal Assistance Services Council (PASC) of L.A. County has commissioned annual studies to examine how these benefits have effected retention and quality. Those studies are posted here along with an introductory letter. Visit the PASC website for updates.

A final rule that would allow more Medicaid beneficiaries to be in charge of their own personal assistance services, including personal care services, instead of having those services directed by an agency, was published in the Oct 3, 2008 Federal Register. The rule, effective Nov. 3, 2008, guides states that wish to allow beneficiaries who need help with activities of daily living to hire, direct, train or fire their own personal care, workers including qualified family members.

Policy makers and provider organizations continue to struggle to reduce turnover among direct-care workers in the long-term care field. Unfortunately, data elements used to measure turnover vary widely between programs and make it difficult to understand and counteract this problem. The authors discuss these challenges by drawing on their experience with the turnover tracking system of the Better Jobs Better Care Demonstration.

This resource presents ten key facts showing the economic and health insecurity of the direct care workforce. It can be used to advocate for improved public policies and increase public awareness of the needs and importance of caregivers. The figures presented also illustrate the linkage between quality of care available to the growing population of older Americans, recruitment and retention of workers, and wage and benefits levels.

Watch these videos to hear first-hand from direct-care workers about the services they provide. They share their thoughts on why they do this work, how they are viewed by families, friends, and service recipients, and how they deal with challenges such as discrimination and disrespect. They also provide advice on how to improve the field. The videos are available free at this website or can be ordered as a DVD or VHS with a discussion guide included.