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Recognition and Public Awareness
 
Iowa Caregivers Month is a statewide recognition and public awareness campaign that has been sponsored by the Iowa CareGivers Association every June since 1992 to honor Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Care Aides, Health Care Technicians, and other direct care workers who provide 80-90% of the care and assistance to Iowans of all ages in a variety of care settings. The importance of this workforce is unmistakable and it is our privilege to say "thank you" for their dedication.
Iowa Caregivers Month Proclamation Language
Governor Chester J. Culver
Whereas: About 80-90% of the most fundamental care is delivered by Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Care Aides, Certified Medication, Rehabilitation and Hospice Aides, Adult Day Care and Assisted Living Workers, Personal Assistants, Health Care Technicians, Resident Counselors, Educational Developmental Specialists, and other direct care workers in many care settings; and
Whereas: These individuals deliver compassionate quality care to Iowans of all ages who need some level of assistance; and
Whereas: These individuals often become extensions of the families of those they care for and a source of respite for Iowa's family caregivers; and
Whereas: Over 700,000 Iowa Baby Boomers will reach retirement age by the year 2030 and 40% will require some form of long term care; and
Whereas: There is already a dwindling pool of direct care workers to meet the growing demand; and
Whereas: Turnover in the direct care field is unacceptably high. Annual turnover among CNA's (Certified Nurse Aides), has been estimated as high as 75%; and
Whereas: Access to high quality long term care services depends upon a high quality and stable workforce; and
Whereas: Each of us may need the assistance of a direct care worker at some point in our lives; and
Whereas: The importance that these direct care workers have on the quality of life of Iowans, the economy, and other aspects of our society often goes unnoticed:
Now, therefore: I, Chester J. Culver, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim the month of June 2007 as Iowa Caregivers Month.
National Nurse Assistants Week
As a part of Iowa Caregivers Month, you may wish to participate in National Nurse Assistants Week and the programs and opportunities attached to this celebration. For more information, check out the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants at http://www.cna-network.org.
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