This is the second installment in a three-part series addressing retention strategies for aging services providers.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Quality of Life Training, Professional Caregivers, turnover, REVEAL Aging, CNA, Certified Nurse Assistants
Describing empathy as a lubricant creates visuals in my head like the annoying squeaky door hinge that finally gets some W-D40. A lubricant softens rough edges, makes things work better, and a little bit goes a long way. I think the same is true when we approach situations that we encounter in work and life from a place of empathy.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: empathy, Empathy Training, REVEAL Aging, Dementia Live™️, cultivating empathy
I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the new year. Of course, I always look forward to dreaming of new adventures, possibilities, and the opportunity to open a new chapter. But, I've got to be perfectly honest. I'm REALLY looking forward to 2022!
I'm guessing that most of you who are reading this, no matter where you fall in the aging services spectrum, would have to agree the last umpteen months have been a doozy!
What I don't want to do is belabor the point. In fact, I'm not even going to bring up anything about what we've been through because that's all we've been talking about for far too long!
Starting all over again is not that bad...because when you restart, you get another chance to make things right.
When we restart, we put things in a new perspective, learning lessons from the past. But, when we look through a different lens, the ideas and creativity that start flowing are incredible! We've had the opportunity at AGE-u-cate to do just that. We decided late last year that we would look beyond the circumstances beyond our control and put our innovative heads together to do things better.
Don't let Fear and Uncertainty Stop You.
Being Stuck is about the most frustrating feeling in the world. Getting UNSTUCK is exciting. It means you are moving forward, even if in baby steps. Taking small steps is often hard for me, but thanks to a great team, they remind me that it's sometimes essential - and I'll be doggone - they are right! When we embarked on our Reveal Aging Micro-learning initiative, we had to talk with our partners, garner feedback, and take the time necessary to do it right.
Failure is Part of the Process.
Failure is NOT the opposite of success. It's a part of Sucess! How many times have you gotten off the ground with a new program or initiative only to hit a brick wall? Probably more times than you can count. As we know, things happen that are out of our control, and sometimes we don't think things through. It's Okay. Start again, and learn from your mistakes.
Stay Focused, and Keep your Eye on the End Game.
If you are in aging services, you have a mission, and it's an important one. What better work to do than that which has a higher calling? Is it easy? No. Can you solve all the challenges that lie ahead of you? Of course not. Can you make a positive difference in the lives of others? You bet, and that's where you need to keep your eye set.
We need to look ahead to all that we can do better in 2022. Right around the corner lies a world of possibilities for all of us to work together and make a difference in the lives of those whom we serve.
Let's Press Restart! Refocus and Get Started because 2022 is right around the corner - thank goodness!
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: leadership, Leaders, REVEAL Aging, education and training
Direct care workers are home health aides, personal care attendants, certified nursing assistants or caregivers. They provide a wide range of necessary services, include helping with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating to helping cleaning homes, prepare meals, managing medication regimens, companionship and much more. Direct care workers play a critical role in aging services and provide the bulk of long-term care. Despite their importance, they often provide care under stressful working conditions, do not have opportunities for career advancement and are among the lowest paid workers.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: Quality of Life Training, Professional Caregivers, turnover, REVEAL Aging, CNA, Certified Nurse Assistants
Millions of older adults and people living with disabilities rely on the direct care workforce, and the numbers are growing at an enormous rate every single day. Sadly, we have undervalued the importance of the direct care workforce and ill prepared the critical need to provide quality of life and quality of care training. It's time to change the paradigm.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, Training, Dementia Live, Aging Service Provider, Quality of Life Training, aging, dementia training, older adults, Workforce, Direct Care Workforce Training, REVEAL Aging, staff
According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, during the past year, 65.7 million Americans (or 29 percent of the adult U.S. adult population involving 31 percent of all U.S. households) served as family caregivers for an ill or disabled relative. That is 65.7 million family caregivers who are desperately needing education, training, support and help with finding available resources. We must do a better job as these numbers are increasing drastically with our aging population.
1 Comment Click here to read/write comments
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, aging services, Family Caregiver, Training, Family, Caregiver, caregivers, Aging Service Provider, caregiving, family caregivers, parents, aging, families, REVEAL Aging, staff, workforce training, home health
The Aging Services Industry faces a triple-whammy when it comes to workforce turnover and retention.
The first hit is the massive turnover that occurred and continues to occur because of the pandemic. Second, the turnover is on top of existing unfillable vacant positions. Thirdly, there are new entrants into the field who have no prior experience caring for older adults.
We don't want just warm bodies. Yet, providers had to scurry and pull from every corner to get to bare staffing requirements. Now, providers hang on hope that the good employees will not jump ship as the pandemic fades. What are we to do about this massive issue?
Much of the focus will continue to be on recruiting new employees, and rightly so. However, great attention needs to be given to how to keep the new, good employees. At the same time, it is critical to also maintain the spirit and engagement of the seasoned employees.
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments
Topics: AGE-u-cate Training Institute, Senior Care Professionals, aging services, Training, Hospital Professionals, Caregiver Training, aging, AGE-u-cate®, education, AGE-u-cate Training Insitute, Employees, Pam Brandon, turnover, older adults, AGE-u-cate Training, REVEAL Aging
