Eldercare Advocates Head to Washington, D.C.
September 16, 2010
Implementation of Health Care Reform is Opportunity to Meet the Aging Population’s Urgent Need for Geriatric Care
Washington, DC – Eldercare workforce advocates will urge investments to improve recruitment and training for the eldercare workforce during visits with lawmakers in Washington, D.C. on September 21. They see such investments as a high priority in the implementation of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in light of the graying of Americans.
“There are too few workers properly trained to care for older adults—a challenge that will only worsen as the Baby Boom generation begins to retire,” said Steven Dawson, Co-Convener of the Eldercare Workforce Alliance. “Many elders and their relatives often find themselves in need of ongoing geriatric care, once they return home after hospital stays, but are unable to find assistance due to the lack of a trained workforce. We need to address this issue now.”
In calling for heightened attention to geriatric education and training, the Eldercare Workforce Alliance created teams of advocates that reflect the multidisciplinary teams that are needed to care for an aging America. “Caring for older Americans, many of whom suffer from multiple chronic conditions, requires a team that includes health professionals such as physicians, nurses, social workers as well as family members and direct care workers,” said Nancy Lundebjerg who co-convenes the Alliance with Mr. Dawson. “We are delighted that our diverse stakeholder group is coming together to advocate as teams on behalf of the patients that they serve.”
The advocates were drawn from among the thousands of members of the organizations that joined together to form the Eldercare Workforce Alliance (EWA) in 2008. EWA, with 28 members, is representative of the multi-disciplinary teams that are needed to care for the nation’s rapidly growing aging population’s urgent need for care that will allow them to continue living independently, in their homes whenever possible.
The advocates visiting the nation’s capital will meet with their Members of Congress to press for significant increases in appropriations for education and training in various programs. The programs already authorized by Congress under health care reform, include:
- Geriatric Academic Career Awards;
- Direct Care Worker Training Program;
- Geriatric Nurses Workforce Development Programs;
- Geriatric Education Centers;
- Geriatric Training Program for Physicians, Dentists, and Behavioral and Mental Health Professions; and,
- Geriatric Career Incentive Awards Program.
The number of Americans 65 and older is expected to double over the next two decades as the baby boomers turn 65. Their need for care givers trained in geriatrics, whether they be doctors, nurses, direct care workers or family members, already outstrips the rising demand for these services.
