The Experience of Home Care Providers and Beneficiaries With Enhanced Training Requirements in Washington State. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ordway, Anne; Johnson, Kurt L.; Kneale, Laura; Amtmann, Dagmar; Demiris, George
• Other Names: Molton Ivan R. guest-editor.; Ordway Anne guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging and health. Volume 31:Number 10(2019)Supplement
• Page Start: 124S
• Page End: 144S
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: home- and community-based services -- direct care workers -- worker training -- consumer-directed care -- long-term care policy; Older people -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Geriatrics -- Periodicals; 618.97
• DOI: 10.1177/0898264319860298
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-2643

Abstract

Objective: Our objective was to understand the perceived impact of Washington State's upgraded training and certification requirements of long-term care workers providing personal care services from the perspectives of consumers and home care aides.Methods: We applied conventional qualitative content analysis to semi-structured interviews with 17 consumers and 10 certified home care aides.Results: We found that consumers in this study put a high premium on directing many aspects of their personal care services. We also found that while home care aides supported what consumers desired for their own care, some were unsure how to reconcile providing individualized services with the State's standardized, competency-based training and certification program.Discussion: State-based efforts, such as the one in Washington State, serve as an important starting point for building a broader effort toward the identification of competencies and associated training standards for the home care workforce.