By Geralyn Magan
The sessions will focus on the latest LTSS Center research in the areas of workforce, DEI, housing-based services, and LTSS financing.
Researchers at the LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston will share their latest research findings during four education sessions at this year’s LeadingAge Annual Meeting. The sessions will explore LTSS Center research in three areas:
- Workforce.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
- Housing-Based Services.
The Annual Meeting will take place Oct. 24-27 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Register for any of the following sessions by visiting the Annual Meeting website.
WORKFORCE
How Paying a Living Wage Benefits Everyone (113-A)
America’s 3.5 million direct care professionals play a critical role in supporting older adults and people with disabilities. However, these caregivers are not valued and often struggle with economic insecurity. This session will highlight a new LeadingAge study documenting the benefits that paying professional caregivers a living wage would yield for caregivers, providers, care recipients, and local economies. Robyn Stone and Natasha Bryant from the LTSS Center, and Ruth Katz from LeadingAge, will also share a LeadingAge blueprint for supporting and growing the direct care workforce.
The session takes place on Sunday, Oct. 24, from 3-4 p.m.
Job Resignation in Nursing Homes: Lessons from COVID-19 (121-E)
At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the LTSS Center conducted a study to determine how COVID-related work stress and employer supports influenced the decision of professional caregivers in nursing homes to leave their jobs. LTSS Center researchers Natasha Bryant, Verena Cimarolli, and Robyn Stone will describe the study, including findings indicating that high levels of stress increase the risk of resignation among care staff, while high-quality communication can lower that risk. Discover the study’s implications for providers, take home lessons about the importance of employer communication and caregiver preparation during any public health crisis, and identify how employers can reduce turnover by addressing employee challenges.
The session takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 8-9 a.m.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
Promoting Diversity in Aging Services (24-B)
In early 2021, LTSS Center researchers surveyed LeadingAge members to learn about their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, metrics, challenges, benefits, and planned activities. Researchers Natasha Bryant and Robyn Stone will share findings from that survey. They will be joined by Suzanne Pugh of Aldersgate and Erica Thras-Sall of McFarlan Village to consider the DEI journey from the provider and leader perspectives. Julian Thompson from UNCF will also join the panel to describe a proposed collaboration between LeadingAge and UNCF to raise awareness of career opportunities in aging services and create a diverse pool of candidates for mid-level and C-suite positions.
The session takes place on Sunday, Oct. 24 from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
HOUSING-BASED SERVICES
Service Coordinators: A Lifeline for Older Residents (79-E)
Service coordinators play a key role in supporting older residents of affordable senior housing communities. Many affordable housing organizations are interested in enhancing their service coordinators’ capacity to assist residents who are facing increasing and increasingly complex social and health challenges. Join the LTSS Center’s Alisha Sanders and LeadingAge’s Juliana Bilowich and Linda Couch for updates on the policy landscape for service coordinators in affordable senior housing communities and to discuss potential models and partnerships for strengthening and expanding the support that service coordinators can provide to older residents.
The session takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 8-9 a.m.