Direct Care Workforce Issues
 A Note from Iowa CareGivers Association Policy Director
“Let’s Make Iowa a Great Place to Be a Professional Caregiver.”
In a letter to Iowa Legislators, the Iowa CareGivers Association ROC said this:
"Iowans have come to realize that we live in a rapidly aging state, a state whose fastest growing segment of the population is 85 and up. And that fact, coupled with the reality of baby boomers reaching retirement age, is producing a growing demand for long term care services...in people's homes, in assisted living centers, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, community respite centers and other locations.
Iowans are also realizing that while demand for services is going up, the supply of direct care workers to meet the demand is going down. And that such a combination can only lead to one result...lack of quality care for themselves, their neighbors, friends and loved ones.
It's not a mystery why the supply is dwindling. The occupations feature low wages, inadequate health care and retirement benefits, insufficient initial and ongoing training, physically demanding and emotionally draining work, and the lack of team-based work environments."
Simply put, you have to have good jobs if you want to produce good care. Making direct care jobs GOOD jobs requires lots of effort on the part of many.
- MANY need to be talking to their Iowa legislators,
- MANY need to be writing letters to their local editors,
- MANY need to be showing up at meetings where they get the chance to listen to and talk with a member of the United States Congress, or even a future President!
Telling the direct care worker story, and getting elected leaders to understand and address the problems, is my job. It's your job. It's the job of the Iowa CareGivers Association ROC and all those who support direct care workers and care about those you serve.
This web site is a place to find out what's going on, and to offer your thoughts and your help. Use it. Enjoy it. Learn from it. And give us your feedback...we need to know what you're thinking, and we need to know how we can work together to make Iowa a great place to be a professional caregiver!
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