Direct Care Workforce

Turnover among direct-care workers in long-term care costs U.S. employers about $3,500 per employee, or more than $4 billion a year. This report outlines the known facts about direct-care turnover costs, presents a framework for measuring those costs, and discusses their implications for providers, policymakers, and researchers. The inescapable conclusion is that direct-care turnover is a business problem, a quality of care problem, and a significant public resource problem.

The New Freedom Initiative, announced in February 2001, called for a comprehensive assessment of federal policies, programs, statutes, and regulations to identify barriers that impede community living for disabled individuals—and for recommended solutions. In October 2004 CMS awarded an additional $30 million in Real Choice Systems Change Grants—this money in addition to the 188 grants for over $158 million between fiscal years 2001-03. This report highlights accomplishments of those programs.

This entry has materials from the 2004 Reinventing Quality Conference: Developing and Integrating Quality Initiatives to Improve Performance and Enhance Inclusion. The event was sponsored by the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services, Human Services Research Institute, and Research & Training Center on Community Living . Over 20 presentations happened during the conference; topics include a variety of subjects and are listed in the keyword section.

NCHSD held its 4th Annual National Fall Technical Assistance Conference for Medicaid Infrastructure Grantees. This year’s meeting featured pre-conference regional gatherings, a day-long session on building public-private partnerships with employers, updates from our CMS partners, and a series of state expert panel presentations. Attached are the Fall 2004 Conference Edition eNews with highlights and promising practices plus the conference materials and presentations from every session.

Find a variety of outreach materials for New Jersey WorkAbility. Included are English and Spanish versions of brochures, fact sheets and frequently asked questions about the program.

The mission of the Maine Personal Assistance Services Association is to build recognition and opportunity for the direct care, direct support, and personal assistance workforce through education, professional development, and public awareness. The website offers a list of upcoming events, a newsletter, and other resources.

This report summarizes information from the WI Department of Health and Family Services, Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources (DHFS-BALTCR) Nursing Home Transition Real Choice Systems Change grant. A survey colleting information is an important initial step to assist county and state-level program and policy planners. This report provides an overview of the ways in which counties purchase direct care and support services for elderly people and people with disabilities.

To assist states in preparing for the challenges and opportunities they will face as baby-boomers age, the National Governors Association's Center for Best Practice's (NGA Center) published this report designed to identify current trends and future directions, and to assist state policymakers in creating programs and policies that respond to need. This data book provides information on demographic shifts, health care concerns, & long term care workforce shortages.

A federal judge’s decision that the Fair Labor Standards Act applies to thousands of home care workers who had been exempt is causing providers to rethink the way they provide services. The ruling in Evelyn Coke v. Long Island Care at Home, Ltd. & Maryann Osborne found that workers who are employed by agencies or other third parties are entitled to overtime pay if they work more than a 40 hour week & they are covered by minimum wage laws & other FLSA rules, such as compensation for travel time.

The Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program is an employment program for people with disabilities who are interested in going to work. The quarterly newsletter covers marketplace news, opportunities and experiences. This Autumn 2004 issues details the new marketing alliance and offers the experience of promising practices and partnerships. The publication also has a calendar and lists all recently approved Employee Network Providers.