New Report Outlines Workforce Vision

Posted on July 7, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

LeadingAge National's LTSS Center @UMass Boston released a report titled Feeling Valued Because They Are Valued, describing “a vision for professionalizing the caregiving workforce in the field of long-term services and supports.”

This whitepaper aims to reimagine the professional direct care workforce by developing six strategies. The strategies include:

1. Expand the caregiver pipeline
2. Enhance training and education
3. Facilitate career advancement
4. Increase compensation
5. Prepare universal workers
6. Reform the long-term services and supports financing system

The report concludes that direct care professionals in long-term care have an essential role but are not appropriately valued in the workforce or society. "Programs and policies are needed to stabilize and strengthen the quality of the workforce by investing in competency-based training, providing living wages and benefits, and offering career development opportunities." LeadingAge will include policy reform in its platform moving forward based on these findings.

Read the full report, the two-page executive summary, or check out the infographic here.