Improving Quality of Care for Aging Americans Eldercare Advocates Head to Washington, D.C.
October 20, 2010
Implementation of Health Care Reform is Opportunity to Meet the Aging Population’s Urgent Need for Geriatric Care
Washington, D.C. – With the midterm election less than two weeks away and health care reform among the list of voter concerns, Portland elder care workforce advocates will visit with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., on October 21 and urge investments to improve recruitment and training for the workers who care for older Americans. 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 America.
“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 Dr. Anissa Rogers, professor of social work at the University of Portland, who will be traveling to the nation’s capital. “Many elders and their relatives, for instance, 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.”
In calling for heightened attention to geriatric education and training, the Eldercare Workforce Alliance created teams of advocates that reflect the multidisciplinary teams 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 and social workers as well as family members and direct care workers,” said Dr. Rogers.
The Portland team of advocates is representative of this diverse team approach needed to care for our nation’s growing aging population. Dr. Rogers conducts research and teaches undergraduate courses on health and mental health issues of older adults. Dr. Rogers also concentrates on health disparities for older minority groups and increasing her students' interest in geriatric social work. Joining her from the Alzheimer's Network of Oregon is Jo Gosselin.
The Portland advocates are 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 multidisciplinary teams that are needed to respond to the nation’s rapidly growing aging population’s urgent need for quality care within and across all settings.
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, including:
- Geriatric academic career awards;
- Direct care worker training programs;
- Geriatric nurse workforce development programs;
- Geriatric education centers;
- Geriatric training programs for physicians, dentists, and behavioral and mental health professionals; and
- Geriatric career incentive awards programs.
The number of Americans 65 and older already is rising rapidly and is expected to double over the next two decades. Their need for caregivers and providers trained in geriatrics – doctors, nurses, direct care workers and family members – already outstrips the rising demand for these services.
