Policy Attention Needed to Improve Direct Care Worker Wages and Other Challenges

Friday, November 4, 2022

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

Location: 232 CC

CE: 1.5

Chair(s)

Denise Tyler, PhD, FGSA

Senior Public Health Analyst
Aging Disability and Long Term Care
RTI International
Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

Discussant(s)

RS

Robyn Stone, DrPH

Senior Vice President, Research
LeadingAge LTSS @UMass Boston
LeadingAge
Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

Denise Tyler, PhD, FGSA

Senior Public Health Analyst
Aging Disability and Long Term Care
RTI International
Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
Melissa Hunter, MSW

Research Public Health Analyst
Aging, Disability, and Long-Term Care Program
RTI International
Durham, North Carolina, United States
KP

Kristie Porter, MPH (she/her/hers)

Research Public Health Analyst
Health Care Quality and Outcomes
RTI International
Durham, North Carolina, United States

Direct care workers (DCWs), including nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care assistants, play an essential role in the health and well-being of over 20 million Americans who receive long-term services and supports (LTSS) at home, in nursing facilities, and other settings. In 2020, nearly 4 million DCWs supported older adults and people with disabilities in completing self-care and other daily tasks. Their efforts require considerable technical and interpersonal skills, but these essential workers receive low pay and rarely receive benefits. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the attention paid to DCWs in the media and among policymakers. This symposium presents the results of three studies conducted by RTI International and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) focused on DCWs. First, we present the results of a study examining how the wages of DCWs compare to the wages of other entry-level workers across all 50 states and report the effect of state policies aimed at improving DCW wages. Second, we report findings from a study exploring the experiences of home care aides during the pandemic as well as the federal and state policies implemented to assist these DCWs during the pandemic. Finally, we present the results of a study that assessed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on DCW staffing in nursing facilities. Together these studies suggest that more policy attention is needed to improve direct care work and attract the millions of additional DCWs that are expected to be needed in coming years.

Learning Objectives:

After attending this session, participants will be able to describe the effect of state wage policies on direct care worker wages.
After attending this session, participants will be able to discuss the challenges faced by direct care workers in home care and nursing facilities during the pandemic as well as policies and practices implemented to alleviate these.

Presentations:

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

Effect of State Wage Policies on Direct Care Worker Wages
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Denise A. Tyler, PhD, FGSA – RTI International
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

COVID-19 Intensified Home Care Workforce Challenges
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Melissa Hunter, MSW – RTI International
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM ET

COVID-19 Pandemic Increased Nursing Facilities' Reliance on Contract Staff to Address Staffing Shortages
Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kristie A. Porter, MPH (she/her/hers) – RTI International