PHCA launches initiative to strength long-term care workforce

Listen to this article

The Pennsylvania Health Care Association (PHCA) has launched Care for the Aging, an initiative to strengthen the state’s long-term care workforce.

According to a release, in a time when the demand for caregivers is higher than ever, Care for the Aging steps in to bridge the gap between potential employees and career opportunities in long-term care settings, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences, and personal care homes.

“The future of quality care for Pennsylvania’s seniors hinges on our ability to attract and retain a passionate and skilled workforce,” Tara Ober, director of communications at PHCA, said in a statement. “Care for the Aging is a comprehensive effort to reintroduce the public to the stability, career growth potential, and profound personal reward inherent in working with older adults. It’s about empowering the next generation of caregivers.”

Facets of the educational effort include the following:

• Career Education: Providing detailed information on various long-term care roles, such as Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), administrators, therapists, and support staff.
• Success Stories: Featuring testimonials and profiles of individuals thriving in the long-term care sector to offer real-world perspectives on the impact of these careers.
• Training Pathways: Offering guidance on required education, training programs, and certification processes needed to enter the field.

A key component of the initiative is a long-term care career portal. Per the release, the members-only feature serves as a specialized platform for long-term care providers to post current job openings, connecting them directly with candidates interested in the sector. Open positions can be filtered by location, allowing candidates to find career opportunities in their area and make a difference right away.

By consolidating available positions into one centralized location, Care for the Aging simplifies the job search process for candidates while offering employers a powerful, targeted recruitment tool. Positions listed cover the full spectrum of long-term care operations, ensuring opportunities for all skill levels and professional backgrounds.

PHCA’s long-term care workforce crisis advocacy is supported by the Care for the Aging initiative. It aligns with PHCA’s legislative efforts to advocate for the advancement of workforce initiatives to address the crisis in Pennsylvania:

• Senate Bill 114 would modernize the nurse aide training by establishing the development and implementation of a long-term care curriculum for nurse aides that implements a train-the-trainer model.
• Senate Bill 115 allows caregivers in personal care homes and assisted living settings to take a skills competency exam in lieu of a high school diploma or GED.
• Senate Bill 116 allows students in grades 11 or 12 to earn up to two elective credits towards graduation if they are employed in long-term care. This package of legislation prioritizes the long-term care workforce needs in Pennsylvania and breaks down barriers to careers caring for seniors.

The PHCA is a statewide advocacy organization for Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable residents and their providers of care. Members include for-profit and not-for-profit skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities and personal care homes. PHCA represents over 400 long-term care and senior service providers and more than 50,000 elderly and disabled individuals.