Tag Archives: front line staff

Post COVID Long Term Care Reform

The COVID-19 pandemic must inspire significant changes in how long term care is treated and resourced.

The  COVID-19 pandemic has placed long term care in the spotlight.  Immense challenges have existed for decades, but salt is now in the wound.

Some lawyers see this pandemic as an opportunity to teach the long term care industry a lesson.  In addition, various media outlets see this as a chance to catch the big story of the devastated family member of one who lived in a nursing home.

Others see the realities of this pandemic as an opportunity to bring about reform.  Larry Carlson,  President and Chief Executive for United Methodist Communities writes about the need for more emotional and financial support for the senior housing and healthcare system https://ocnjdaily.com/letter-to-the-editor-senior-living-centers-cant-do-it-alone/.

Katie Smith Sloan is the President, and CEO of LeadingAge- the national voice for aging services providers.  She discusses the “slow-motion catastrophe” that nursing homes were last on the list for federal COVID support. An Open Letter from Katie Smith, president of LeadingAge

The Front Line

Let’s begin by acknowledging Mr. Carlson’s observation about the societal negative narrative about the people who work in long term care.  Facts:

  • 4.5 million direct care workers support older adults and people with disabilities across the U.S
  • Turnover is 40 – 60% because the work is difficult and workers are under-appreciated and under-paid
  • 42% of direct care workers rely on some form of public assistance to make ends meet

Despite the discouraging realities of this work, millions show up every shift, on weekends and holidays, and even during a pandemic.  In addition, they put themselves at risk to do the work that nobody else can or wants to do.

Direct care workers are concerned about the well-being of those in their care.   Feedback from communities trained in Compassionate Touch reveals that despite the stress and time constraints, staff still find time to calm and reassure their residents with Compassionate Touch.  Compassionate Touch®

These workers and the residents they care for deserve better- much better.   They don’t deserve disrespect or to be described as criminals.  Furthermore, they deserve respect, esteem, and wages that reflect the societal value of growing old with dignity and quality care.

I hope that a higher level of respect and helpful attention for aging services will be an outgrowth of this pandemic.

Julie has worked in Aging Services for over 30 years and has been a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator since 1990. She is a Certified Master Trainer with the AGE-u-cate Training Institute. Through her company Enlighten Eldercare,  Julie provides training and educational programs on elder caregiving for family and professional caregivers.  In addition, she is an instructor and the Interim Director of Gerontology at Northern Illinois University and lives in the Chicago Northwest Suburb of Mount Prospect, IL.

Collaboration – Producing Creative Solutions in Senior Care

collaborationOur hyper competitive, profit driven business world often scoffs at the idea of collaboration.  I supposed I’m naive, but I want to think that those in senior care are more passionate and compassionate about working with others for the greater good.  I still believe this is true for most of us.  Working well with others almost always comes back to us ten fold.  This is true in life and business.

If there is any field that begs for creative problem solving it’s senior care.  We’re helping elders and families navigate rough seas.  More often than not, these circumstances don’t fit neatly in a box with easy solutions.  Instead there are complex decisions to be made at every juncture.. not just from families but from those who are serving this client base.

Collaboration is the action of working with someone to create or produce something.  If we look at the power of collaboration in creative problem solving, it only makes sense that those in this industry and those who service this industry need to be doing a whole lot more collaborating.

The geriatric population of the United States is growing rapidly, and the senior care industry is expanding to meet that increasing demand.

By U.S. Census Bureau estimates, there will be 83.7 million people over the age of 65 in the nation by the year 2050 – that is almost double the population of people that age in 2012. The ‘baby boomer’ generation began turning 65 in 2011. By 2050, any surviving baby boomers will be over the age of 85.

Many aspects of the senior care industry will likely advance and expand rapidly as the population continues to age.

The global elderly care services market was $629 billion in 2014, according to Grand View Research, with institutional care services accounting for about half that market. Growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%, the global market will likely reach $1.2 billion by 2022; home health and personal care will likely experience tremendous growth during this period.

This phenomenal growth will most definitely open unlimited doors for those who see the need to better serve their customers by working well with others.   None of us can operate in a vacuum, and certainly not in an industry that will continue to evolve as new generations require different levels of care, workforce preparedness   will become increasingly paramount, and staff shortages across the spectrum will mean all of us must be prepared to connect and collaborate.

Pam Brandon is President/Founder of AGE-u-cate Training Institute.  Collaborating with an international network of Master Trainers in providing innovative training for front line care staff, families and clinicians, AGE-u-cate is transforming the landscape with experiential tools to improve care for those with dementia.  

www.AGEucate.com