Kathleen Sebelius
The new head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expresses her appreciation for direct care workers and pledges her determination to improve their jobs in a May 18 letter to the Washington Post.
In her letter, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius calls direct care workers “the backbone of our long-term care system,” adding: “Their compassion and work is invaluable to individuals, their families and our society.”
“The Department of Health and Human Services is deeply concerned about the needs of long-term care workers and maintaining an adequate and high-quality workforce,” Sebelius writes. “It is our goal to improve the attractiveness of caregiving jobs and reduce worker turnover. Ultimately, this will result in improvements in the quality of life and care of disabled and older Americans.”
The letter was published in response to “Marilyn Daniel’s Reward,” the May 10 cover story of the Washington Post magazine.
Elise Nakhnikian
Communications Director
Direct Care Alliance
