March 22, 2017
Aging Conference Sheds Light on Caregiving
Yesterday at the annual Aging in America Conference, the Paraprofessional Health Institute (PHI) released their 2017 priority report in which they called on the federal government to strengthen the direct care workforce. They cited several agendas to make this happen including improved training efforts.
Our comprehensive training program, the Schmieding Method, is a thorough curriculum that already goes above and beyond the minimum requirement set forth in Arkansas. Furthermore, we are currently updating a few aspects that will only strengthen our efforts in the near future. We recognize that older adults have the right to remain in their homes and deserve competent and compassionate caregivers. When the time comes to enter a skilled nursing facility, assisted living or even a hospital, many of our certified caregivers are also in those areas tending to those residents when they need it most.
“Around the country, but especially in rural America, we are witnessing severe workforce shortages in paid caregivers—a problem that will only worsen unless we improve the quality of these jobs with better wages, training, and career opportunities,” said Robert Espinoza, vice president of policy at PHI. We are right in the heart of rural America and we have already recognized these issues.
As our current funding from the Reynolds Foundation is phasing out, we are pleased to see folks like those at the Aging in America conference pleading for federal intervention that could assist us in keeping our doors open. A couple of our own from UAMS, Angie Norman, DNP, GNP-BC, CDP and Bethany Cheatham, RN, CDP are also presenting at this conference.
Our proven success record of producing quality caregivers has been shown in a 96% completion rate statewide. In Jonesboro 95% have also passed their state board exams. As we are searching for additional funding, we know that efforts such as these will continue to strengthen our cause. These actions are also critical to the future of caregiving in America.
We encourage you to read more about the recommendations from PHI which include policy changes across five areas: wages and benefits, training and advanced roles, data collection and quality, expanding access and cultural competence, and family caregivers.