Leonila Vega
Last month, a Des Moines Register editorial called for more support for those caring for the elderly.
According to the Register, “Iowa has one of the highest rates in the country of admissions to nursing facilities. Going forward, more and more Iowans will want to live in their own homes as long as they can. This state must do more to help people do that successfully – with help from paid professionals and family and friends who volunteer.” “If you hire someone to cut your hair or massage your back, the state licenses the worker, who must have minimum training. But if you hire someone to go to your mother’s house to fix her meals or bathe her, the person may not even be known to the state, let alone have any experience or training.”
Last week, the Iowa Caregivers Association and the Iowa Department of Public Health weighed in, joining the call for more support. President of the Iowa Caregivers Association, Betty Grandquist, wrote, “Each of us is one accident or illness away from a disability. Each of us is aging. We need to ask the basic questions: Who will care for us? Will there be enough qualified workers to provide that care? What quality of care will we receive? People who do [direct care] work are typically referred to as “family” by those they serve. Their work is often called “priceless.” Yet it is greatly undervalued by society as a whole.
That leads to the situation we currently face as a state and nation: a growing shortage of direct care workers due to the low pay, poor benefits and inadequate training provided those who enter the profession.”
The same week, Director of the Iowa Department of Public Health Tom Newton wrote, “Iowa will need another 10,000 direct care workers by 2016. Even so, there is no statewide system or curriculum to provide training for the important services they provide. Direct care workers need our support to get the education and training they need and the recognition they deserve.”
The situation in Iowa is not unique. Across the country, direct care workers are undervalued and in high demand. Without respect and better conditions, it will be impossible for us to meet the demand for direct care workers. The Iowa Caregivers Association is a great example of workers and allies uniting to call for change. They are an inspiration to other state associations fighting to improve conditions for direct care workers and I couldn’t be more proud of their achievements thus far and what they are set to accomplish in the future. If you haven’t already, please review our state association services and let me know if you’re interested in working with the Direct Care Alliance on issues impacting workers in your state.
