America’s aging population is raising the demand for long-term care, whether in nursing homes or, increasingly, in assisted living facilities and through home-based care (Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute 2010). Assisted living facilities offer housing alternatives for older adults who may need help with daily living activities but do not require intensive medical and nursing care. Home health care enables seniors to live independently for as long as possible by providing a wide range of services, including not only assistance with daily living activities and housekeeping chores but also occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, and even skilled nursing.
This Jobs to Careers brief focuses on how long-term care facilities in two cities (Hartford, CT and Portland, OR) are training direct care workers to advance their careers and help meet the rising demands of the expanding long-term care costumer base.
This piece is one in a four-part series on advancing frontline workers across four health care subsectors. The complete series is as follows:
