Federal grant includes professional development to address the crisis facing workers and care recipients

Contact
Simona Combi
Public Relations Manager
571-527-3982
simona.combi@ncoa.org

Arlington, VA (October 24, 2022)—The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, has been awarded a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) to establish a new capacity-building center to support the nation’s direct care workforce.  

Under the 5-year, $6.5 million grant, NCOA will lead a coalition of nine organizations to develop and deliver core competencies and professional development for direct care professionals whose work enables older adults, people with disabilities, and their families and caregivers to lead healthy and independent lives. 

“During the pandemic, it became even more clear that the demand for direct care is far outstripping the supply of workers nationwide,” said Josh Hodges, NCOA Chief Customer Officer. “Both care recipients and direct care workers deserve our support to improve the system for all.” 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the home health and personal care aide industry will add over 900,000 new job openings by 2031. To address this crisis, NCOA will leverage the strengths of nine national partners, including: 

• ADvancing States, representing the nation’s 56 officially designated state and territorial agencies on aging and disabilities 
• Housing Innovations, a nationally renowned trainer with over 50 years of experience assisting direct care workers with effective evidence-based home and community-based services for vulnerable adults 
• National Alliance for Caregiving, which recognizes friend and family caregivers as key partners in ensuring person-directed care 
• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, representing 55 disability councils across the U.S.
• PHI, the nation’s leading authority on the direct care workforce, promoting quality direct care jobs as the foundation for quality care
• Social Policy Research Associates, which works on public and philanthropic efforts designed to improve people’s health and livelihoods
• The Green House Project, a national innovator in radical non-institutional elder care environments to empower the lives of people who live and work in them
• The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, which improves policies and practices to ensure that all children, youth, and adults with disabilities contribute to their communities of choice
• The Paula J. Carter Center on Minority Health and Aging at Lincoln University, a historically black college/university and key contributor to knowledge of the intersections of aging and disability on minority health

“Without a strong direct care workforce, families and caregivers face increased pressure to step in and deliver care that is often insufficient for the complex health needs of older adults and persons with disabilities,” Hodges said. “We’re proud to lead this national coalition to improve direct care for all across the country.”

“Though direct care workers are essential to millions of older adults and people with disabilities, they remain undervalued in the health and long-term care fields and in public policy,” said Jodi M. Sturgeon, President & CEO, PHI. “We are proud to partner with the National Council on Aging and other leading organizations to help design a national technical assistance center that will help strengthen and stabilize the country's critical home care workforce.”

“The Green House Project is honored to be part of this incredible team of leaders,” said Senior Director Susan Ryan. “From caregivers to care recipients and their families, this sector is built on people—and we can’t expect workers to provide top-notch care without supporting them as well. This team has the knowledge, expertise, and vision to provide those supports and strengthen our vital direct-care workforce for the years ahead.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more by following us at @NCOAging.