Archive for March, 2010

The Difference a Year Can Make: The evolving work of the Direct Care Alliance

Posted by on March 31st, 2010 at 8:24 am | 5 Comments »

John Booker

Attending the American Society on Aging (ASA) and the National Council on Aging’s joint “Aging in America” conference this past week in Chicago reminded me why the Direct Care Alliance is so important to every direct care worker in this country. It was also clear to me and so many others that the Direct Care Alliance has come so far in just one year.

As a member of ASA’s New Ventures in Leadership (NVL) Class of 2010, my perspective as a direct care worker; as a founding member of the Direct Care Alliance; and a graduate of the Voices Institute gave me an advantage and a different perspective than the thousands of other attendees.

Discussions about the work of the DCA over this past year could be heard in the hallways and convention rooms throughout the conference. In special sessions, attendees marveled at some of the Voices Institute graduates and the work they are producing. I was personally acknowledged as a VI grad by my peers in the ASA’s NVL program, which was designed for emerging minority leaders in the field of aging. It was an honor to represent direct care workers and the Voices Institute in such a distinguished way. Continue reading »

From the ASA/NCOA Conference: How health care reform impacts DCWs

Posted by on March 30th, 2010 at 11:07 am | 1 Comment »

Last week I traveled to Chicago for the 2010 Aging in America Conference. It was a great event and I wanted to share my experience with you along with some thoughts on how health care reform impacts direct care workers.

The Nature of Leadership: Remarks from Atlantic Philanthropies’ Stacey Easterling

Posted by on March 30th, 2010 at 10:34 am | 4 Comments »

Atlantic Philanthropies Program Officer Stacey Easterling recently spoke about the responsibility, joys and burdens of true leadership at the 2010 ASA/NCOA Aging in America Conference in Chicago.  Atlantic Philanthropies is a major sponsor of the Direct Care Alliance, and we’re very grateful for their support. Enjoy the video and text excerpt from her presentation, below.

Leadership is about having the courage to face your demons every day—whether its public speaking or making a difficult decision or making a mistake—in order to learn and grow from it. Leadership is being able to accept the fact that although you will try to do everything perfectly all the time, you will not, and being OK with that. Being a leader is learning from those mistakes and dusting yourself off after the fall and getting right back on the horse. Continue reading »

Watch President Obama’s last call for health care reform LIVE from VA

Posted by on March 19th, 2010 at 10:34 am | No Comments »

Personal Care Credential to Boost Industry Professionalism

Posted by on March 18th, 2010 at 1:30 pm | 4 Comments »

Vera Salter

I’m thrilled to announce the Direct Care Alliance’s new national credentialing program.  Thanks to a generous grant from the Ford Foundation and the support of employers, direct care workers and consumers across the country, this credential is expected to become the gold standard credential for personal care workers.

The  Direct Care Alliance launched the pilot phase of the credentialing program on March 5, in Portland, Maine.  Additional pilot tests have been administered in Tucson, Arizona, and by the Pennsylvania Direct Care Workers Association.  Workers who complete the pilot test will be among the first to receive the credential, which meets criteria outlined by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence and will be rolled out nationwide later this year. Read the complete announcement and the fact sheet.

The Best and Worst State Practices in Medicaid Long-Term Care

Posted by on March 18th, 2010 at 12:46 pm | 1 Comment »

This week we’re happy to present the newest Direct Care Alliance Policy Brief, courtesy of Candace Howes of Connecticut College.  This brief, “The Best and Worst State Practices in Medicaid Long-Term Care“, explains why Medicaid poli­cies lead to so much variation in current state Medicaid long-term care programs.

We also explore how those policies have been used in some states to expand the range and availability of services, drawing on lessons from innovative states to suggest reforms in national Medicaid policies that would make home- and community-based services more accessible. Candace has spoken out about wage and benefit increases for direct care workers; see her short video, below.

Asking for More: Quality care for those who need it

Posted by on March 18th, 2010 at 12:28 pm | 2 Comments »

Bob Stevens

How could I reasonably ask for more?

That’s the question I posed in my last post, where I cited the rewards I receive as a direct care worker. Actually, it isn’t a very good question because one could respond “move your lips.” Instead, I meant to ask “WHAT could I reasonably ask for?”

My answer?  Quality care for all who need it.

Quality care requires quality caregivers and there aren’t enough to go around. Conversely, there are too many direct care workers who should be doing something else. We need to recruit and retain people who are best suited for the demands of direct care work, but this is a difficult task given the negativism conveyed by the DCW community.

Internal to the DCW community, there is an imbalance weighted toward the negatives when workers express their feelings about their jobs and their lives. Words and actions frequently indicate that being a direct care worker is one of the most miserable and sacrificial jobs one could have, when in fact, it can be one of the most rewarding. Continue reading »

A Call to Direct Care Leaders, continued

Posted by on March 18th, 2010 at 12:17 pm | No Comments »

Bridget Siljander

This is part two of a post on working together to efficiently advance change in the direct care profession. Read the first part of the post here.

Setting an example

We direct care worker leaders have an example to set. We need to model the highest form of conduct, if for no other reason than to show that we are much better than anybody ever expected.  Do you want to make a splash? Then shock the world by being the best you can be at every occasion and opportunity. If we look like we’re in this for our own glory, if we behave in petty ways, engage in politics, argue with each other, gossip, criticize or act jealous, if we try to get somebody out of our way so that we can be in the limelight, if we act like we own the movement or the association we belong to, how will we ever change the perception of us as inferior, or earn the attention and respect of the people we are trying to address?

Two years ago when I first got into advocacy work, I was blown away by the thought that I could be a leader. I think it went to my head for a while, but at the same time I was very insecure, overwhelmed and nervous. I also had some ideas of what a leader should be, most of them were based on illusions or myths. Those ideas changed over time as I learned from mentors, people I networked with, and the DCA’s Voices Institute National Leadership Program. Continue reading »

Loving the Multi-cultural Workplace

Posted by on March 15th, 2010 at 1:11 pm | 1 Comment »

This post was submitted by an anonymous direct care worker.

As a teen and young adult I suffered from the expected case of wanderlust. I was sure that someday, somehow, I’d see all the places on the planet that called to me. The Far East held the strongest fascination, followed closely by Africa; I was obsessed with Ancient Egypt for much of my childhood.

Luckily, I did manage to get to Europe in high school: Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium and Luxembourg.  I also wandered up to Canada for four years of college and after graduation wandered some more back and forth across the U.S.  Then I grew up, became a nurse, and moved to Vermont. Though beautiful in its own right, Vermont is far from exotic and mysterious. Thank goodness I had the Travel Channel to satisfy my longing for far away lands.

After kids, I accepted that my traveling days were likely over. I’m so fine with that, truly. There is not enough Ativan in the world to get me on an overseas flight.  But the Universe is good to me. Since I can’t get to the world, my job has brought it to me through my co-workers. They come from all over and I appreciate them tremendously.

Just the other night, I worked with CNAs from Haiti, Angola and Nigeria, and the nurse I was working with, from Kenya.  Allow me introduce you Continue reading »

Five Immediate Consumer Benefits Under Health Reform

Posted by on March 12th, 2010 at 4:13 pm | 1 Comment »

Many thanks to Doneg McDonough, Legislative and Policy Director for Health Care for America Now, for providing this post.

1. Stops insurance companies from denying care based on “pre-existing conditions.”

- Immediately people who are uninsured due to a pre-existing condition can buy insurance through a special insurance program.

- Within 6 months of passage, no new health plan can discriminate against children with pre-existing conditions.

-In a few years, no insurance plan can deny coverage to anyone for pre-existing conditions.

2. Stops some of the worst insurance company abuses. Insurance companies can no longer:

- Cancel insurance coverage retroactively when you get sick (rescission).

- Put lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits.

3. Expands coverage and care for the uninsured and people with insurance.

- Allow young adults up to age 26 to stay covered on their parents’ insurance.

- Offer free preventive benefits. Continue reading »

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