Registered nurses (RNs) are the largest licensed health profession in the US and a key component of the long-term care (LTC) workforce. RNs who work in LTC settings earn less than those who work in hospitals and Black and Hispanic RNs employed in urban hospitals earn less than White and Asian nurses, even after controlling…
In the US, some health systems and emergency medical services agencies are leveraging the versatility and experience of community paramedics to meet needs for COVID-19 testing, care, and vaccination. This report describes models of community paramedic practice that have been utilized in the US during the pandemic and discusses changes in law and regulation that…
Health care workers in long-term care (LTC) settings often face financial security concerns due to low wages, inconsistent hours, and lack of benefits. As a result, there are higher rates of LTC workers who hold multiple jobs, which can increase workers’ exposure to COVID-19. Because COVID-19 is an especially serious threat to the frail elderly,…
Treating the complex issues of people living with dementia is difficult because behavioral symptoms often occur in combination with pain symptoms. In addition, increasing cognitive impairment and communication challenges exist as dementia severity progresses. Little is known about either the contributions of different clinical specialties in prescribing medications for this population or prescribing patterns by…
Peer support providers are individuals who have been trained to use their personal experiences with mental illness and substance use disorders to help others in recovery. Organizations that provide behavioral health treatment are increasingly employing peer support providers as vital team members. Prior studies have focused on evaluating the effectiveness of peer providers in terms…
There are currently no federal standards to evaluate the adequacy of personal care aides based on the demand for home and community based services in the US, but past research has indicated long-term shortages in the personal care aide workforce. Not much is known about how these shortages differ across geographic regions. This Health Affairs…
Accelerating rates of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD) has led to a greater reliance on adult day health centers (ADHCs) and their skilled workforce. Although there is a lot of research on this topic, little is known about staffing in ADHCs that provide ADRD services compared to ADHCs that do not. As populations with…
Aging adults with serious mental issues (SMI), including bipolar disease, depression, and schizophrenia, often have multiple chronic conditions and high rates of comorbidities. One of the major issues for older adults with SMI is the widespread shortage of behavioral health specialists (BHSs) which has created a lack of mental health services in the US. This…
The United States faces a considerable shortage of workers in the long-term care sector at a time when more Americans are living longer. In the next 7 years, an estimated 73 million Americans will be aged 65 and over, equal to 21% of the population.However, research on long-term care (LTC) workforce shortages generally lacks the…
The COVID-19 pandemic had a great impact on health care workers by increasing workload and leading to burnout. The stress for workers may have also led to an increase in the risk of occupational injuries. This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on occupational injury or illnesses among nursing care facility workers.October 18,…
