CalGrows Takes on Caregiver Shortage with Free Training and Incentive Payments
July 30 2024 - 11:00AM
Business Wire
More than 13,000 caregivers have enhanced or
expanded their skills and confidence with CalGrows courses;
Millions of dollars in incentives are available through August
30
California faces a looming shortage of caregivers for older
adults and adults with disabilities over the next five to 10 years.
The California Department of Aging (CDA) has committed to helping
close the gap through the CalGrows direct care workforce training
and career development program. CalGrows encourages, supports, and
incentivizes home and community-based services (HCBS) caregivers.
To date, more than 13,000 caregivers across the state have
participated in more than 89,000 training courses, and qualified
applicants have collected over $7 million in incentive
payments.
“CalGrows has been instrumental in addressing the impending
shortage of caregivers in California. Thousands of enrollees across
the state—many of them women and people of color—have been able to
take free training courses and earn financial incentives of up to
$6,000 while building their skills,” notes CDA Director
Susan DeMarois. “CalGrows offers a tremendous opportunity
for paid direct care workers, as well as unpaid family and friend
caregivers, to learn new skills and improve existing skills to
deliver the best possible care to older adults and adults with
disabilities. I encourage all California caregivers to take
advantage of this free training before the CalGrows program ends on
September 30, 2024.”
WHAT CAREGIVERS ARE SAYING: Jeannie Smith of NAPA Valley
Support Services said of her experience with the CalGrows program,
“We can apply [what we learn] in our everyday work life
immediately. [People] like feeling empowered by being able to take
what they learned and immediately use it in their workplace.”
“Being a caregiver and direct care worker is a very hard job.
Having the opportunity not just to take these free courses but also
getting incentive pay is a huge win to them,” said Sean Hidalgo,
who manages CalGrows courses at Sacramento’s ACC Senior
Services.
ACC driver Keng Thor, who has taken CalGrows courses, said, “The
knowledge I received from CalGrows was put to use and made me more
confident in being able to meet and interact with my clients.”
CalGrows training has empowered California caregivers with
improved skills and more confidence when working with older adults
and adults with disabilities. Hear from caregivers like Smith who
have grown their skillset to support loved ones and/or their career
in these video clips: CalGrows Participant Videos.
BIGGER PICTURE: California’s aging population is
growing quickly. By 2030, 25% of the state’s population will be
over age 60, outnumbering younger generations for the first time.
This population shift increases the need for skilled caregivers as
more Californians face age-related conditions like Alzheimer's and
limited mobility. CalGrows is a critical step toward increasing
California’s workforce of high-quality caregivers.
ABOUT THE FREE CAREGIVER TRAININGS: CalGrows provides a
foundation for increased skills, job satisfaction, retention, and
career development opportunities for direct care workers. Those
include paid professional caregivers as well as family and friends
who step into caregiver roles and want to better care for and
communicate with patients and loved ones.
More than 600 free, virtual
and in-person courses are available on Calgrows.org. The CalGrows
website course catalog is searchable by topic, location, and
language. Courses are offered in nine languages and designed to
address the needs of California's diverse population. Among the
many topics:
- Dementia care
- Patient-centered communication
- Mobility assistance techniques
- Healthcare professional self-care
- Managing chronic disease
- Care team collaboration
Paid caregivers who are eligible for up to $6,000 in incentive
payments must submit an Incentive Claim by August 30, 2024.
CalGrows courses will be available online through September 30, but
all Incentive Claims must be submitted by August 30.
ABOUT THE CALGROWS PROGRAM: CalGrows is a California
Department of Aging (CDA) program designed to support caregivers of
older adults and people with disabilities by improving their skills
through training courses. More than 70 organizations across
California received funding through the CalGrows Innovation Fund to
develop and scale innovative training courses and offer incentives
to paid direct care workers. Both paid direct care workers and
unpaid family and friend caregivers can take courses.
ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING: Under the
umbrella of the California Health & Human Services Agency, the
California Department of Aging (CDA) administers programs that
serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers,
and residents in long-term care facilities throughout the state. To
learn more, visit aging.ca.gov.
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sara.eisenberg@aging.ca.gov 279-675-2522