The Direct Care News     transparent logo, white type
For direct care workers and their allies
 
May 29, 2012

New York Care Congress to Convene this Sunday   

Caring Across Generations logoIf you live in the New York City area, we hope to see you this weekend at an event hosted by our partner organization, Caring Across Generations.

The New York Care Congress will take place at Pace University from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 3. It is open to all members of the public who care about improving our long term care system for the people at its center: those who receive care and those who give it. Activities will include:
  • Sharing care stories: sharing testimonies and vision for change;
  • Giving voice to change: taking action together on important state and local campaigns; and
  • Growing a movement at home: sharing the vision of transforming care in America and building the Caring Across Generations campaign.

Direct from Washington, DC

Capitol HIll

Supreme Court ruling imminent on Affordable Care Act:  The U.S. Supreme Court's decision on whether to repeal part or all of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is expected as early as this week. Earlier this year, the Court held three days of hearings focused on challenges to the Act's constitutionality. If the Court strikes down the law, it will be a significant setback for the estimated 900,000 direct care workers who currently have no health insurance. Several other components of the ACA can also benefit direct care workers, including those addressing coverage for individuals with pre-existing conditions, coverage under an employer-provided plan for adult children up to age 26 and elimination of out-of-pocket fees for preventive services under Medicare. Read more about the Supreme Court, health care reform, and ACA's impact on direct care workers here and here.

House hearing on affordable health care:  The House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions is holding a hearing this Thursday at 10 a.m. titled "Barrier to Lower Health Care Costs for Workers and Employers."  The hearing will be held at 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.
The Tao of Teamwork
helen hanson border to R
Helen Hanson
Working as a CNA can be extremely challenging. Whether you're helping people in their homes or in a nursing facility, the work is basically the same. The difference is the teamwork that is part of the job in nursing homes, where you often rely on other CNAs for assistance with one of your residents.

At least, there should be teamwork in nursing homes. Remember that old saying, "Many hands make light work?" It is true. But some CNAs don't see teamwork as part of the job.

That makes the job harder for the rest of us because it adds to the stress level. Read more from Helen Hanson.
Researchers Want to Know How You Feel About Your Job
survey iconLast week, we sent out a request on behalf of a team of researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, asking home health aides, certified nursing assistants, and personal care aides to answer some questions about how they do and feel about their jobs. The survey will inform a study whose aim is, in the researchers' words, "to help employers and agencies to better design and implement policies to improve the consistency and quality of care, as well as address problems of burnout and turnover among care workers." In appreciation for their participation, ten respondents will win $50 cash cards.

The researchers got a good response but they want even more, so we're linking to their survey once again. If you already filled it out, we thank you. If you are a direct care worker and have not yet filled it out, we hope you can find time this week (the survey will close on June 1) to take the survey. And if you are not a direct care worker yourself but you know someone who is, please pass on the word and let them know about this excellent opportunity to share valuable information about their profession.

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Direct from the Headlines
A London School of Economics blog post shows that conditions for direct care workers in the United Kingdom are much the same as in the United States.

A fact sheet and briefing paper from the Institute for Women's Policy Research evaluate the likely impact of a proposed policy to mandate earned paid sick time in Massachusetts. Both show how increased access to paid sick days would improve access to health care and health outcomes, save the state money, and help employers avoid paying for low productivity.

An effort to move Medicaid recipients from long-term care facilities to home- and community-based care has fallen short of its goals, researchers find.
The Direct Care Alliance is the national advocacy voice of direct care workers in long-term care. We empower workers to speak out for better wages, benefits, respect, and working conditions, so more people can commit to direct care as a career. We also convene powerful allies nationwide to build consensus for change. 

Questions? Comments? Story ideas? Please contact Elise Nakhnikian at 646-823-7434 or [email protected].