|
|
|
|
| |
Direct Care Workforce is Headed For a
Crisis |
|
|
 |
by Susan Gordon, The Vermont Association of Professional
Care Providers (VAPCP)
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ the two fastest
growing occupations this year in terms of rate of growth of ALL occupations are
direct care job titles - Home Health Aides (slated to grow at an annual rate
through this year at 5%) and Personal and Home Care Aides (slated to grow at
4.9% through this year).
And yet, Vermont is facing a growing crisis: the number of us who need direct
care and support is outpacing the growth of the direct care workforce. Baby
boomers are aging; the number of children diagnosed with cognitive disabilities
such as autism is growing; those of us with physical disabilities seek more
independence; and, medical advances continue to enable us to live longer,
manifesting more complex needs.
At the same time, the number of “traditional” caregivers – women aged 25-54 – is
slowly declining. Simply said, we do not have enough direct care workers to meet
current and future needs for care and support. As a result, Vermont is
challenged to identify and implement effective ways to recruit and retain a high
quality and stable direct care workforce.
Legislative Study
The Vermont Legislature funded a Study of the Direct Care Workforce and directed
the Commissioner of the Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
(DAIL) to gather information and develop informed policies and practices to
address the workforce shortage. The research focused on the issues of workforce
quantity and availability, quality, and stability across care and
support settings and consumer populations, as well as, the financial
issues that will need attention. This study is a critical step in the process of
understanding and strengthening the direct care workforce in Vermont.
Research Highlights and Conclusions
The Legislative Study of the Direct Care Workforce, which included survey
responses from 1,700 direct care workers, clearly tells us the following:
Wages matter:
Only one half of direct-care workers report that they expect to receive a raise.
Given the forces of inflation, without annual cost-of-living increases,
caregivers lose — already low — income by staying in this work over time.
But…
The higher the wage, the longer caregivers stayed in the direct-care profession.
Conclusion: We need to establish livable wages.
Benefits matter:
Only one-third of direct-care workers in Vermont receive health coverage as an
employment benefit.
But…
Workers with health coverage remain in their jobs for 2.5 years longer than
those without it.
Conclusion: We need to assure reasonable employment benefits, especially health
care.
Training and career development matter:
Only 42 percent of direct-care workers report receiving formal job training and
direct-care workers in Vermont are dissatisfied with their current opportunities
for advancement. No standardized or portable Licensed Nursing Assistant II or
Personal Care Attendant II curricula and credential currently exist
But…
Direct-care workers stay in their jobs significantly longer when satisfied with
the preparation and training they receive. National research shows that when
career ladders provide recognition and advancement opportunities for workers
they remain in the profession.
Conclusion: We need to provide training, supervision, and opportunities
for advancement.
Conclusion
Individuals who provide direct care to help others negotiate the tasks of daily
living answer a calling: they come to work each day to help others. These
workers care deeply for those of us who live with developmental disabilities,
physical disabilities, or the challenges brought on by aging. To insure that the
growing need for direct care is met, Vermont must develop effective strategies
for attracting and keeping direct care workers.
These conclusions and findings are supported by the results of other research
initiatives conducted here and across the country. What we learned in the 2001
Paraprofessional Workforce Study remains constant: direct care workers engage in
this profession because they want to work with, help, and make a positive
difference in other’s lives.
The Vermont Association of Professional Care Providers (VAPCP) was established
in 2001 to raise awareness about the profession, provide training opportunities,
advocate for direct care workforce issues, and support opportunities for
leadership development.
For the full report go to
www.dail.vermont.gov/dail-publications
