Iowa Care Givers Association
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Current Direct Care Workforce Issues

The issues related to the direct care workforce are complicated.  We’ve broken them down into some key areas with a short description of each.  If you’d like to look into the issues more deeply, you can view our “Newsletter and Resources” page on this website.

Direct Care Workforce issues are very complex.  By nature, the issues are about:

  • Access to care
  • Workforce and economic development
  • Education and professional development for direct care workers and
  • Social justice

Access to Care
Just because one has health insurance doesn’t mean one has access to care.  Access to care isn’t possible without a stable direct care workforce.

Workforce and Economic Development
Direct Care Workers (DCWs) leave the field of caregiving at alarming rates because of low wages, lack of health care coverage, inadequate education, lack of opportunities for advancement within the field of direct care and an overall lack of respect.

The costs of worker turnover in Iowa’s nursing homes alone, is over $45 million annually.  Investment in addressing the needs of the direct care workforce would be a better use of public and private dollars.

Education and Professional Development
The education and training standards for Direct Care Workers (DCWs) are inconsistent and  DCWs can’t maintain their certification through continuing education like other health professionals.  There are also few opportunities for DCWs to advance within their chosen field of direct care.

Social Justice
A high percentage of Direct Care Workers do not have access to care because they and their employers can’t afford the high premium costs.  It is a social injustice that those giving care don’t have access to care.