Caregivers

This policy paper proposes that the unionization of direct care workers can improve recruitment, retention, and service quality without limiting consumers’ rights and choices. The author explores the historical roots of efforts to address direct support workforce issues, reviews the role of unions in the field in the past, examines emerging support models, and comments on current union efforts.

Find thirteen examples of state level legislation that improve the wages, collective bargaining rights, or insurance of personal care workers and home health aides. The report also includes graphics illustrating workforce trends and a list of potential best practices that were not passed into law in their respective states.

This study examines dynamics affecting the direct-care workforce in Vermont. It found that only one third of those workers have employer-sponsored health insurance, one half of those surveyed expected to receive a raise, and 42% received formal job training. The report includes nine recommendations to strengthen the state’s direct-care workforce. In addition, the appendices include original surveys given to employers and direct-care workers.

Over the last eight years, federal, state, and local governments have re-envisioned how to deliver and pay for an ever-growing caseload of elderly individuals and persons with disabilities who need services at home, in the workplace, or in more costly nursing facilities. This discussion provides a vision and a context for HCBS reform consistent with CMS’ vision for reforming post-acute care that focuses on addressing system barriers and informing and empowering health care consumers.

This consumer guide from MetLife is one in a series of guides called "Since You Care" done in cooperation with the National Alliance for Caregiving. It provides information for family caregivers about locating potential home care aides, screening applications, conducting interviews, running background checks and administering payroll, including social security and other taxes. It also provides helpful resources, including books, publications, websites and a sample contract.

This final report summarizes the findings from five years of research on how each of the three demonstration states implemented its program, and on how the programs have affected the consumers who participated, the consumers’ paid and unpaid caregivers, and the costs to Medicaid. The analysis is based on an experimental design to ensure that the estimates of program effects are unbiased, and has sample sizes that are adequate to detect program effects of policy-relevant magnitudes.

The National Health Policy Forum Issue Brief provides information about Systems Change grants and the kinds of activities state Medicaid agencies have undertaken to transform their institutionally based systems. This brief raises critical policy questions related to public spending for long-term care in different settings that might be considered in tandem with future grant funding decisions.

These three presentations provide information about the Utah Real Choice marketing and awareness efforts. The “UCare” program was established as part of the grant and the surveys were conducted in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Using telephone surveys, survey participants were asked about their awareness and understanding of the UCare program before and after the marketing campaign.

A publication that may be useful for legal guardians as they consider or prepare for a a transition planning process for the person they represent. This book guides the process in determining if a person can live in the community, and what that community living environment would need to look like. The purpose of this guidebook is to provide information about the variety of community residential options available to adults with developmental disabilities who relocate from State Centers.

The Montana Choice program created this booklet for individuals receiving personal assistance services in their home or would like to begin receiving services. The handout provides users with the resources needed to manage their care under the self-directed personal assistance program.