For Ashley Drooger, caring for others isn’t just a job – it’s her calling. “There’s no getting around it,” she said. “This is absolutely what I was meant to do. I was put on earth for this right here.” Ashley began her career as a certified nurse assistant, working in hospitals to build her bedside manner and medical skills. But she found her true passion in direct in-home care, where she could […]
For Jennifer Voegtline, CEO and administrator of Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, the work is about more than medicine; it’s about dignity, hope, and honoring life to the very end. Recently, her team helped a patient fulfill a final wish: one last ride in his sports car with his daughter. “People still have goals, […]
Bethany Duyser, Assistant Director of Impart Alliance, joined Paula Cunningham to discuss how to enter the direct care profession. As a nurse and nurse practitioner, Duyser primarily focuses on training individuals to become direct care workers. Together, they outlined the specific steps needed to pursue a career in this field.
Michigan State University’s IMPART Alliance announced today that it has reached a new milestone, successfully enrolling 500 students in training courses, preparing them to join the direct care workforce. The program launched in early 2024 to fill an estimated 15,000 positions in the industry. “Direct care workers (DCW’s), provide paid, professional support to older adults […]
Dr. Clare Luz, Director of Impart Alliance, was interviewed about the critical role of direct care work and its impact on everyone. She emphasized the urgent need for more direct care workers and highlighted the challenges they face, including being overworked and underpaid.
With four years of experience, Pauline Wiggins, a Direct Care Worker (DCW) of Muskegon County, recently stepped into a new role as an MSU IMPART Alliance trainer after enrolling in her first training course in late 2023. A champion of person-centered care, Pauline sees her work as a tool, helping people live fully. “I tend […]
When Lori Sutton’s son, Jeremy, was just 14, his world was shaped by the challenges of autism and severe disabilities. With few options available and a fierce love driving her forward, Lori made a bold decision: she helped Jeremy move into his own home on Vail Street in Midland — and soon after, she ended […]
In direct care, support often transitions into friendship. For Direct Care Worker Dallas Reim and Mike Hitchcock, this happened quickly, yet quite naturally. “They kind of almost become like a part of your family,” Mike shared, reflecting on nearly two decades of receiving support and services and forming meaningful connections with direct care workers. […]
Dan and Jennifer Digmann’s love story is one of resilience, devotion, and the power of direct care. Their journey together is deeply intertwined with their experiences living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. Dan was diagnosed with MS on Valentine’s Day in 2000. Initially, he managed the relapsing-remitting […]
The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) recently unveiled its new community training lab, marking a significant step in addressing the growing challenges faced by direct care workforce across the state. Located in Grand Rapids, the center is dedicated to equipping caregivers with essential skills and support, addressing Michigan’s critical shortage of direct care […]
