Carol Hofacker, local direct care worker and attendee at our June conference on empowerment and self-esteem, has a personal business!
She makes personalized denim walker bags with four pockets.
This is a great gift idea!
contact tamar77@ptd.net for pics and prices!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
PHI Launches PolicyWorks
PHI Launches PolicyWorks: A National Strategy Center for the Direct-Care Workforce
PHI announces the launch of PolicyWorks, an online strategy center promoting national and state policy solutions to strengthen the direct-care workforce. PolicyWorks features:
PHI announces the launch of PolicyWorks, an online strategy center promoting national and state policy solutions to strengthen the direct-care workforce. PolicyWorks features:
- Strategic Areas - Frameworks for understanding the leading policy issues affecting the direct-care workforce
- Workforce Facts - An introduction to the demographics, size, and economic impact of the direct-care workforce
- Policy Recommendations - Strategic recommendations on the critical issues affecting direct-care workers
- Chart Gallery - High quality graphics highlighting key data on the direct-care workforce
- Guide to Accessing Federal Recovery Act Funds - Help for those interested in taking advantage of the unprecedented level of public resources now available
- Health Reform Resource Center - Resources to help ensure that national health reform works for the direct-care workforce
PolicyWorks is staffed by PHI's national and state policy experts and led by PHI National Policy Director Steve Edelstein.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Direct Support Professional Takes Top Job at Voices Institute
If you want something done, they say, give it to someone who’s already busy. And if you want someone to run a leadership program for direct care workers, who better than a busy direct care worker?
The Direct Care Alliance recently named Bridget Siljander to the newly created position of Coordinator of the Voices Institute.
A graduate of the Voices Institute National Leadership Program’s first class, Bridget has provided care and supports to elders and people with disabilities for the past 12 years. She has worked in hospitals, group homes, and nursing homes, but most of her work has been in home care. For the past nine years, she was the primary aide for one home care client.
Click on the video to hear Bridget's story
or click here to read the full story on the Direct Care Alliance blog.
The Direct Care Alliance recently named Bridget Siljander to the newly created position of Coordinator of the Voices Institute.
A graduate of the Voices Institute National Leadership Program’s first class, Bridget has provided care and supports to elders and people with disabilities for the past 12 years. She has worked in hospitals, group homes, and nursing homes, but most of her work has been in home care. For the past nine years, she was the primary aide for one home care client.
Click on the video to hear Bridget's story
or click here to read the full story on the Direct Care Alliance blog.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Satisfaction Levels IMPROVE in Nursing Homes!
According to a new report, satisfaction among nursing home consumers and staff has reached a record high.
The 2008 National Survey of Consumer and Workforce Satisfaction in Nursing Homes (pdf), released on May 27, draws on the responses of 223,449 employees; 54,711 residents; and 146,949 family members in 5,075 nursing facilities across the United States.
It shows that 85 percent of consumers and 66 percent of employees give “good” or “excellent” ratings to their nursing homes, with consumers rating their overall satisfaction and employees stating whether they would recommend their facility as a place to work.
Click here to read the full story on PHI's blog
The 2008 National Survey of Consumer and Workforce Satisfaction in Nursing Homes (pdf), released on May 27, draws on the responses of 223,449 employees; 54,711 residents; and 146,949 family members in 5,075 nursing facilities across the United States.
It shows that 85 percent of consumers and 66 percent of employees give “good” or “excellent” ratings to their nursing homes, with consumers rating their overall satisfaction and employees stating whether they would recommend their facility as a place to work.
Click here to read the full story on PHI's blog
Friday, June 12, 2009
AoA Announces HHS-VA National Partnership to Support Older Americans and Veterans at House Veterans Committee Hearing on Family Caregivers
***The following is provided for informational purposes only. United Way of the GLV and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Direct Care Workers Association does not endorse any particular piece of legislation or programs***
On June 4, 2009, Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging Edwin L. Walker testified before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health at a hearing on "Meeting the Needs of Family Caregivers." The hearing presented a unique opportunity for the Committee to gain a better understanding of current efforts that are underway to meet the needs of family caregivers of veterans and begin to identify the gaps in supportive services for family caregivers across the country. At the hearing, Mr. Walker discussed AoA's successful programs provided through AoA's national network of aging and community-based organizations that support older Americans and family caregivers. Among those programs is the National Family Caregiver Support Program which has provided significant support and assistance to families struggling to care for their loved ones for close to ten years. Mr. Walker also took the opportunity to announce the availability of $10 million in funding for an exciting collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a nationwide community-based long-term support program to help older Americans and Veterans of all ages with Disabilities remain in the community. This partnership builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve. For more information about this announcement, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/06/20090604a.html
He also announced the availability of $2.5 million in funding for the new Lifespan Respite Care Program Grants to provide family caregivers with more opportunities to receive much-needed short-term, temporary relief from providing care for their loved ones. These projects will enable states to establish, enhance or expand Lifespan Respite Care systems, including new and planned emergency respite services, training and recruitment of respite workers and volunteers and assist caregivers with gaining access to needed services in their communities. For more information about this funding availability , please visit http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/for_the_press/pr/archive/2009/June/06_04_09.doc
To review the testimony and archived webcast from the June 4 hearing, please visit
http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=412
On June 4, 2009, Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging Edwin L. Walker testified before the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health at a hearing on "Meeting the Needs of Family Caregivers." The hearing presented a unique opportunity for the Committee to gain a better understanding of current efforts that are underway to meet the needs of family caregivers of veterans and begin to identify the gaps in supportive services for family caregivers across the country. At the hearing, Mr. Walker discussed AoA's successful programs provided through AoA's national network of aging and community-based organizations that support older Americans and family caregivers. Among those programs is the National Family Caregiver Support Program which has provided significant support and assistance to families struggling to care for their loved ones for close to ten years. Mr. Walker also took the opportunity to announce the availability of $10 million in funding for an exciting collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a nationwide community-based long-term support program to help older Americans and Veterans of all ages with Disabilities remain in the community. This partnership builds on the similar missions of HHS and the VA with regard to caring for the populations they serve. For more information about this announcement, please visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/06/20090604a.html
He also announced the availability of $2.5 million in funding for the new Lifespan Respite Care Program Grants to provide family caregivers with more opportunities to receive much-needed short-term, temporary relief from providing care for their loved ones. These projects will enable states to establish, enhance or expand Lifespan Respite Care systems, including new and planned emergency respite services, training and recruitment of respite workers and volunteers and assist caregivers with gaining access to needed services in their communities. For more information about this funding availability , please visit http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/for_the_press/pr/archive/2009/June/06_04_09.doc
To review the testimony and archived webcast from the June 4 hearing, please visit
http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=412
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Arden Courts
Just a reminder to everyone -- the next support group for caregivers is TONIGHT!
Time: 5:30 pm
Topic: Caregiver stress
Place:
Arden Courts of Allentown
5151 Hamilton Blvd.
Allentown, PA 18106
Contact:
Karen Francis
Marketing Director
610-366-9010 telephone
610-366-9641 fax
Time: 5:30 pm
Topic: Caregiver stress
Place:
Arden Courts of Allentown
5151 Hamilton Blvd.
Allentown, PA 18106
Contact:
Karen Francis
Marketing Director
610-366-9010 telephone
610-366-9641 fax
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
National Nursing Assistant Survey and Other Reports
According to the Direct Care Alliance newsletter, the April issue of The Gerontologist reports on several important studies about direct care workers, starting with the long-anticipated National Nursing Assistant Survey.
A paper about the survey, which is based on data from 2004, says it "represents a major advance in the data available about CNAs in nursing homes and provides a rich resource for evidence-based policy, practice, and applied research initiatives to address the CNA workforce shortage and to improve recruitment and retention efforts." It also includes suggestions about how NNAS data can be used "to inform new policy directions." Read more and comment
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Marilyn Daniel's Reward
The Washington Post had a touching story about a direct care worker and her clients. Click here to read the full story.
Monday, June 1, 2009
"Come Care With Me" Days Influence PA Legislators
This video created by PHI Healthcare for Healthcare Workers is provided for informational purposes only. United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Direct Care Workers Association does not advocate or lobby for any particular candidates or piece of legislation.
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