On April 16, the Senate Committee on Aging held a hearing, The Long-Term Care Workforce: Addressing Shortages and Improving the Profession. Senators heard from four witnesses: Nicholas Smith, Direct Support Professional/Behavioral Health Specialist; Brooke Vogleman, Licensed Practical Nurse; Matthew Connell, EdD, Sector Vice President for Healthcare; and Jasmine Travers, PhD, MHS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, Assistant Professor, each of whom offered broad perspectives on working in and educating the aging services workforce. The hearing centered on the state of the LTC workforce and the need for comprehensive change to support, sustain, and train the next generation of aging services professionals.
The hearing coincided with the introduction of the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act, led by Chairman Casey (D-PA), Senator Kaine (D-VA), and Senator Baldwin (D-WI), which seeks to increase the number of direct care professionals, provide supported pathways into the LTC workforce, improve compensation for direct care professionals, and increase access to quality long-term care. LeadingAge took advantage of the opportunity and submitted a comment for the record, addressing the state of the aging services workforce and providing suggestions to strengthen the aging services sector and improve the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act.
