A new report is praising Iowa as one of three states developing solutions to the shortage of direct care health workers. The report from the group called P-H-I National says Iowa is taking steps toward improving conditions for direct caregivers — but it also reports the state is falling behind in implementing solutions. The executive director of Iowa Caregivers, Di Findley, says elected officials need to support better education for one of Iowa’s largest workforces.
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Findley says based a recent survey conducted by Iowa Workforce Development shows the shortage of direct care workers is growing.
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Findley says legislators need to throw their support behind a training program called “Prepare to Care ” developed by the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She says it results in credentials for direct caregivers that are portable, meaning they remain valid wherever a caregiver might work.