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.
 Community Leaders Speak Out at Public Forum on Direct Care Workforce Issues
Sherry Oswald, Certified Nursing Assistant, Dubuque, Iowa Opened A Recent Public Forum Hosted by Iowa CareGivers Association and Featuring Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds. Read Sherry’s Comments and View the Forum Videos here. View the photo gallery here.
GREAT NEWS!!!
The Des Moines Register Sheds Light On Direct Care Worker Issues
The May 23rd issue of the Des Moines Sunday Register featured a story about Becky Johnson, a Home Health Aide; an editorial on the health and long term care workforce; and a taped interview with ICA Direct Care Worker Leadership Council member, Anthony Wells, Public Policy Consultant, John Hale; and ICA Executive Director, Di Findley. The interview covers the waterfront of issues impacting direct care worker recruitment and retention, and serves as an excellent overview of the public policy challenges now in front of the Congress and state legislatures throughout the nation.
Click here to read the story about Becky Johnson.
Click here to read the Opinion piece.
Click here to view the video.
 The Cindy Chronicle
How One Story Helped Shape Health Care Reform
Click here to read the article.
Direct Care Worker, Cindy Ramer, Shares Podium with US Surgeon General on the Need for Affordable Health Care.
Click here to view the video.
Iowa Public Radio Exchange Program Draws Attention to Importance of Direct Care Workers
Listen to Ben Keiffer’s interview with 100 year old Mildred Pierce who still lives independently with a little outside assistance and the support of family, good friends and neighbors.
Kieffer talked with Di Findley, Executive Director of the Iowa Care Givers Association and Dana Petrowsky, Presdient and CEO of the Iowa Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Listen to the entire podcast here.
You can also access the State Profile Tool report from the Iowa Department on Aging’s website. The report provides an assessment of Iowa’s long term care system and reveals statistical information about how Iowa lags behind the rest of the country in providing more in home care over nursing home care. Two additional chapters on the direct care workforce and the informal caregiving network will be added by the end of September. To read the current report click here.
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.
Health Care Reform Benefits Small Business and Employees!
Please share this link with your employers!!
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.
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