Martha and Hellen Kwant, Lansing, MI. Mother and daughter are both home care workers. Martha, a retired social worker, says, “Momma taught us from being knee high to boll weevils that we take care of the elderly…You have a warmth that very often turns into love for them, and you’re going to want the best […]
Alisa Curtis, Traverse City, MI. A member of the Odawa nation, Alisa started in DCW work 8 years ago when her parents needed more help and her mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Like most DCWs, Alisa states the wages are too low. Other household income makes it financially possible to work as a DCW. […]
Rachel Esch, Lansing, MI was a Miracle Network Child, born in 1989 with a bone disorder called Hemihypertrophy. Her medical costs were covered and the nurses inspired her own desire to be a nurse. She is a certified nursing assistant, nearing graduation from nursing school and works as a PCA for income and experience working […]
Diane Saari, Kingsford, MI and Donna Aberly, Crystal Falls, MI. Both women have been DCWs for over 20 years. They entered the field to supplement their husband’s income with some “extra money” and have no plans to quit because “It makes us happy.” In their early 70s, they still provide a full range of care […]
Kevin Kitchel, RN, Lansing, MI studied for a career in music recording, did computer work for Linex Systems, and worked for the Michigan Senate but didn’t feel passionate about any of it. His girlfriend, a nurse, inspired him to go back to school and he decided to finally follow advice that his grandmother, an anesthesiologist, […]
As the need for care continues to rise, the roles of direct care workers and family caregivers are absolutely vital. Together, these caregivers form the common thread that weaves through the fabric of our long-term care system.
Gray Panthers NYC addresses divisive nursing home staffing standards proposed by federal regulators. Through documentaries, webinars, and the Unity Series, they unite diverse stakeholders for positive change in elder.
The National Dementia Workforce Study (NDWS) is being launched through an $81 million cooperative agreement with the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to develop and field new annual national surveys of the dementia care workforce, including physicians, nurses, and direct care workers across multiple care settings. The mission of NDWS is to launch the surveys successfully and, of equal importance, to build data infrastructure and dissemination to ensure NDWS becomes a resource for the broader community of researchers and policymakers. This collaborative, interdisciplinary endeavor is led by teams at the University of Michigan and the University of California, San Francisco, with several other university-based and non-profit partners.
Idaho faces a dire shortage of direct care workers, impacting individuals with disabilities. Advocates stress the need for improved pay, respect, and streamlined training to address the crisis.
The Home- and Community-Based Services (HCBS) landscape in the United States is at a critical juncture. A recent report highlighted that all states reported shortages of HCBS workers, most frequently among direct support professionals, personal care attendants, nursing staff, and home health aides. Additionally, most (43) states reported permanent closures of HCBS providers within the last year. The crisis is real, and it harms workers, individuals receiving services, and family members alike.
