Direct Care Workforce

Presentations from NASHP's 23rd annual conference held October 4-6 in New Orleans are available online. Included are remarks from CMS Administrator Donald Berwick , and presentations such as Health Care Reform: New Options for Rebalancing Long Term Services and Supports, Integrating Care for Dual Eligibles, Reforming State Long Term Services and Supports Programs through Participant Direction, and numerous others. Review the presentations about vital issues in state health policy.

A study was conducted to identify current definitions, issues and strategies related to the use of PAS in the workplace. Participants were employees with disabilities who used PAS in the workplace as well as employers. More than 30 articles were reviewed and a comprehensive search of bibliographic resources was conducted. The study revealed an increasing need for PAS, and highlighted fiscal and societal barriers to the full implementation of PAS at work.

Review slides from the CMS Leadership Summit on building capacity and coordinating support for family caregivers and the LTSS direct service workforce, held on September 16-17, 2010. Topics include ACA Opportunities for Family Caregivers and the Direct Care Workforce; Assistance and Support Services for Caregivers; DSW Policy Issues and Challenges; Building Capacity and Coordinating Support for Family Caregivers and the LTSS Direct Care Workforce.

Find a clearly written, user-friendly manual developed for use by an individual transitioning into greater independence and adulthood. The toolkit provides comprehensive guidance on planning for personal assistance services and transitioning to independent living. A number of personal stories are included, along with useful questionnaires, checklists, goal development guides, sample plans, activities of daily living worksheets, and extensive PAS hiring, management and training information.

Check out this guide geared toward the participant/consumer on how to hire and manage personal assistants. Written with the goal of promoting self-determination, this user-friendly guide helps the consumer understand their role as employer and covers topics such as determining the supports they need, finding workers and the role of the Fiscal Intermediary. It includes sample forms, worksheets, checklists, job descriptions, as well as a glossary and tips for helping to keep organized.

How does health reform legislation effect eldercare and disability employers and direct-care workers? Review a chart that summarizes eight health-reform provisions that have either taken effect already, or will do so in the near future. These provisions give direct-care workers and their families numerous opportunities to access more affordable health care before 2014. Find a link to this sheet, as well the Health Care for Health Care Workers website, which contains the full series.

This updated resource, the first reflecting a ten year perspective, provides a state-by-state look at wages and wage trends for PHCAs, the fourth fastest growing occupation in the country, and a key job title within the direct care workforce. Prepared as a resource guide on wages for advocates and policymakers concerned with this workforce, the data underscore the problem of low wages for PHCAs, factors contributing to workforce instability and near poverty incomes for this workforce.

What are the key health reform provisions related to investments in direct-care worker training and workforce development? This fact sheet highlights national advisory panels as well as grant opportunities for states and individual employers. Action steps and additional resources are included.

Read the evaluation report of a training project for case management agencies that coordinate home care and Medicaid waiver services for older residents (Aging Services Access Points). The curriculum encouraged a shift in philosophy and explained the roles of consumers and case managers guided by a consumer-directed philosophy. Results indicated that the regional training was highly effective in achieving its goals. Detailed information about methods of training and evaluation are included.

Under a Cooperative Agreement with AoA, the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging convened a panel of experts on strengthening the LTC workforce. The experts were organized to address five areas of concern: supply of DCWs and family caregivers; retention of these helpers; readiness or capacity of these helpers to provide care; quality of care they provide in terms of outcomes for those in their care; and the impact of the ACA, including the CLASS Act, on family caregivers.