The Eldercare/Disability Direct Care Workforce:
Invisible, Underutilized and Essential
Steven L. DawsonPresident
9 March 2009
Healthcare jobs = essential to U.S. economy
LTC is essential to healthcare employment
LTC will be increasingly essential…
And DCW jobs are essential to LTC
And even though losing ground…
DC workers will be increasingly essential…
DC workforce—massive yet invisible
By 2016, there will be more direct-care
workers (4 million) than: Teachers from K through 12 (3.8 m.)
Registered nurses (3.1 m.)
Fast food & counter workers (3.5 m)
Waiters & waitresses (2.6 m.)
Cashiers (3.4 m.)
– Soon to be 4,000,000 strong
– Already investing $56 billion/year
– Providing 8 out of every 10 hours of paid care
…A substantial human capital asset that is available to improve quality services
DC workers—an underutilized resource…
Re-write the job description for DC workers
• Home-care “front line” for chronic disease management
• Continuing care workers—trained across settings
• Wellness and prevention educational role
• Liaisons to family caregivers offering skills & supports
There is no mystery here…
Collaborating for a Stronger Eldercare Workforce
Steven L. Dawson (PHI)Nancy E. Lundebjerg (AGS)Alliance Co-Conveners
Project Director: Alice H. Hedt www.eldercareworkforce.org
Eldercare Workforce Alliance
AARP Council on Social Work Education
Alzheimer’s Association Direct Care Alliance
American Academy of Nursing Family Caregiver Alliance
American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry
Gerontological Society of America
American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
National Alliance for Caregiving
American Geriatrics Society** National Council on Aging
American Medical Association National Hispanic Council on Aging
American Medical Directors Association
NCCNHR – The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-term Care
American Nurses Association NCB Capital Impact/THE GREEN HOUSE® Project
American Psychological Association
New York Academy of Medicine/Social Work Leadership Institute
American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
PHI**
American Society on Aging Visiting Nurse Associations of America
Coalition of Geriatric Nursing Organizations
Eldercare Workforce Alliance members
**Alliance Co-conveners
The Eldercare/Disability Direct Care Workforce:
Invisible, Underutilized and Essential
Steven L. DawsonPresident