Videos

Videos

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

 “Iowa Braces for a Looming Care Gap: Building a Stable Direct Care Workforce” is a video, broken into four segments, that features community leaders sharing their views on the issues. 

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.

“Real People Real Stories” features Direct Care Workers who lack adequate health care coverage.
To view the video, "Real People, Real Stories: The Uninsured and Underinsured in Iowa" please click here.

ICA Public Forum Videos

Community Leaders Speak Out at Public Forum on Direct Care Workforce Issues
Hear what they had to say.

Anthony Wells, Certified Nursing Assistant, CHPNA
“It’s difficult to make a living in caregiving.”

Bruce Koeppl, State Director, AARP
“Without direct care workers, the care needs of increasing numbers of AARP members and other older adults cannot be met.”

Dean Lerner, Director, Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals
“Nationally, 90% of facilities are understaffed in direct care workers.”

Gene Gessow, Former Director, Iowa Department of Human Services
“What will be our model for providing direct care services in people’s homes and other non_institutional settings?”

Senator Jack Hatch, ‘People are ready for health care reform…and we can do it.  The fact that many of the direct care workers who take care of our parents, grandparents, and the people we most care about don’t themselves have access to good health care coverage is one of the key indicators that the system needs reform.”

Jim Pender and Daughter Rachel, “They literally make the impossible possible,” is the way Jim Pender describes the contribution caregivers have made to the Pender family. Jim’s adopted daughter, Rachel, who had a stroke due to her birth mother’s methamphetamine use, says that without Rachel’s caregiver, Jolene, Rachel would likely have to live in an institution.

John McCalley, Director, Iowa Department on Aging (IDA)
“Keep pushing,” is John McCalley’s message.  “We need to continue taking the concrete steps required to enact proposed legislation that address direct care worker issues…”

Julianne Carson, RN, Home Care Aide Director
“Without a sufficient number of well_trained direct care workers, many people will not be able to continue to live in their own homes, which is where many people wish to be.”

Mollie Cooney, KCCI’s Mollie Cooney moderated the public forum and shares her appreciation for the support she and her father received from direct care workers.

Paul Turner, AMOS (A Mid_Iowa Organizing Strategy)
“I urge direct care workers and their supporters to come together to organize for livable wages and benefits.”

Robert Denson, President, Des Moines Area Community College
“We can do better,” is Dr. Denson’s message.  “Community colleges require capacity to educate more direct care workers in order to meet the growing need for care.”

Tom Newton, Director, Iowa Department of Public Health
“…these shortages are a public health crisis.”

ICA thanks the following for their financial support for the public forum held on February 18, 2009 and the production of the “Iowa Braces for a Looming Care Gap: Building a Stable Direct Care Workforce" video.

Funding also provided by: US Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration.

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