Episode 89: PHI: Investing In The Direct Care Workforce

Millions of Americans rely on the direct care workforce to care for family members and friends.  But this workforce is among the lowest-paid in the nation, the hours are often inconsistent and training can be hard to come by.  The nation’s leading advocate for this paid caregiving workforce is the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI).  In today’s show, PHI President Jodi M. Sturgeon talks about how the aging of America is putting pressure on the labor pool, her concerns over repeal of the Affordable Care Act and PHI’s just-released policy recommendations for the Trump administration.  Jodi also talks about caregiving in her own family, the Institute’s “60caregiverissues” initiative and why it’s important to find solutions to America’s growing caregiver crisis.

PHI website: PHI National
Find out what the direct care workforce looks like in your state: State-By-State
UPDATED: PHI 2021 recommendations: Federal Policy Priorities
60caregiverissues initiative: 60caregiverissues
Referenced NextAvenue article by Jodi: Finding Solutions to the Growing Caregiver Crisis

Music: “Discovery” by Jon Luc Hefferman | CC BY NC | Free Music Archive