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Symposium

Social Research, Policy, and Practice

Long-Term Paid Care Workforce: Shortage, Burnout, Training, Turnover, What's Next?

Friday, November 10, 2023
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
Location: Room 417

Although the long-term care workforce has struggled historically with staff satisfaction, safety, and retention, the pandemic triggered increased turnover and higher levels of staff burnout. As a result, many residential care organizations are using agency staff at unprecedented levels. Given that continuity of care is central to high-quality person-centered care, and the workforce should have access to a physically and psychologically safe environment, it is imperative that the gerontological research and practical community understand the changing conditions experienced by this workforce in crisis and offers solutions at the workplace, industry, and policy levels. In this symposium, authors explore different facets of paid long-term care workforce to stimulate thought and discussion. One paper contrasts the well-being of the workforce to that of the residents during COVID-19. A second paper presents workforce management capabilities and strategies and posits essential questions for the capacity of management and leadership needs of the workforce. Two papers highlight the struggles that are presented as paid long-term care relies increasingly on contract, short-term workers. Paper three discusses how the use of the contract workforce does not support the provision of person-centered care for conditions like dementia. Paper four uses payroll-based journal data to delve into short and long-term use of contract workforce and discusses the nature of contract staffing, and considers how contract staffing may be disruptive to both the direct care worker and the nursing home environment. The discussant will draw out the policy and practice implications arising from the papers.

This is a collaborative symposium between the Aging Workforce and Paid Caregiving Interest Groups.

Learning Objectives:

  • Attendees of this session will understand the connection between continuity of care and person-centered care and
  • Participants will have increased knowledge of the Political Economy of Aging and a renewed understanding of the linkages between staffing, care, policy, and why quality improvement must be viewed holistically.
  • Peers will be better informed of the challenges within the aging services workforce within residential care and why there is an urgent need to address them

Presentations:

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Special Focus Facilities and COVID-19: The Impact on Staff and Resident Health

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Ann Rhodes, PhD (she/her/hers) – Virginia Commonwealth University

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Fostering Consistent and Engaging Care for People With Dementia in Long-Term Care

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jennifer Morgan, PhD, FGSA (she/her/hers) – Georgia State University

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Essential Capabilities for Managing the Long-Term Care Workforce: Evidence From an International Scoping Review
  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
    Examining the Use and Impact of Contract Certified Nursing Assistant Staffing in Nursing Homes

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Kezia Scales, PhD (she/her/hers) – PHI