Direct Care Workforce
Investing in California’s Direct Care Workforce by
Increasing Geriatric Training Opportunities
California has more than 150,000 certified nursing assistants (CNA) and home health aides (HHA), who are providing paid care and support for a growing number of older adults and persons with a disability. This direct care workforce provides the bulk of care for those living at home and for residents of long-term care facilities.
The SCAN Foundation, through its 2009 themed request for proposals, supported five grantees to develop a series of continuing education curricula (in-services) for this direct care workforce. The geriatric-focused curricula, which are based on adult learning principles, will support California’s direct care workforce by enhancing and developing knowledge and skills to provide care.
The curricula are focused on the following themes:
- Dementia: Understanding and Respond to Behaviors
- Strengthening Communication and Problem-Solving Competencies
- Care at the End of Life
- Pills and Spills (Medication and Falls)
- Strengthening Communication and Building Partnerships with Family Caregivers
- Managing Pain in Older Adults
The curricula are available at no cost for employers of direct care workers to use as part of their training.
To access the curricula you must first:
The SCAN Foundation 2009 grantees
Aging Services of California
Aging Services of California is the state’s leading advocate for quality, nonprofit senior living and care. The public-interest association represents more than 400 nonprofit providers of affordable senior housing, continuing care retirement communities, assisted living, skilled nursing and home-and-community-based care. Aging Services’ advocacy educational program and public relations helps its members best serve the needs of more than 100,000 seniors.
The Institute for the Future of Aging Services (IFAS) is an independent research organization dedicated to bridging the worlds of policy, practice and research to advance the development and diffusion of high-quality aging and long-term care services and supports. IFAS is the applied research arm of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).
Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute
PHI (www.PHInational.org) works to improve the lives of people who need home and residential care—and the lives of the workers who provide that care. Using our workplace and policy expertise, we help consumers, workers, and employers improve eldercare/disability services by creating quality direct-care jobs. Our goal is to ensure caring, stable relationships between consumers and workers, so that both may live with dignity, respect, and independence.
San Diego Hospice and the Institute of Palliative Medicine
San Diego Hospice and the Institute for Palliative Medicine was founded in 1977 and is the oldest, most comprehensive hospice program in San Diego County. Our mission is to prevent and relieve suffering and promote quality of life, at every stage of life, through patient and family care, education, research and advocacy.
This curriculum was a collaborative effort of the Center for Advanced Learning at San Diego Hospice. We would like to acknowledge the contributions of Paula McMenamin MSW, Patricia Strunk MS/RN, Connie Carr CNP, Frank Ferris MD, JJ Nadicksbernd MSW, Lisa Wortman,MA, Instructional Designer and Kendra Haddock MA, Instructional Designer.
University of California, Irvine - Program in Geriatrics
The Program in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine (www.som.uci.edu/geriatrics) provides clinical care, innovative medical education and pioneering work in the study and intervention of elder mistreatment. We are committed to delivering high-quality, comprehensive care in a variety of settings and to providing leadership in geriatric education, research, advocacy and community outreach.
University of Southern California - Schools of Gerontology and Pharmacy
The University of Southern California has a long and proud tradition of leadership in both pharmacy and gerontology. As a major goal of its educational program, the USC School of Pharmacy focuses on the unique medication-related needs of older adults providing direct patient care, consultant pharmacist services, and developing education programs and curricula for health professionals, direct care workers, and consumers. The Fall Prevention Center of Excellence (FPCE), headquartered at the USC Andrus Gerontology Center is devoted to improving the lives of older persons, using a multidisciplinary approach, by identifying best practices in fall prevention, increasing awareness through education, and service provider training. Pills & Spills, an interactive in-service series directed toward certified nursing assistants and home health aides, combines the experience and expertise of both organizations and seeks to reduce the risk of falls in nursing homes as well as home environments.
Learn more about the trainings