According to a new study, policy changes and innovative strategies are key to building and stabilizing the direct care workforce. The authors focused on four priorities for workforce development:
- Compensation, with base wages indexed at least to the local cost of living, pay increased tied to longevity/merit/etc., and access to essential employment benefits and wraparound supports.
- Training and advancement, with competency-based training across all Long-Term Support and Services (LTSS) settings, stackable credentials recognized across occupations and settings, and career advancement tied to enhanced training, function, and compensation.
- Supervision and support, with structures and processes that facilitate consistent, supportive supervision and peer mentor programs across settings.
- Empowerment and inclusion, including enhanced integration in care planning and assessment processes and opportunities to take on more responsibility within the interdisciplinary care team.
