The Long-Term Care Workforce Crisis : A 2016 Report

1. The Long-Term Care Workforce Crisis:A 2016 Report

2. The Need for Caregivers • More than 87,000 Wisconsin residents live in long-term and residential care facilities • That number has increased18% since 2003 • In the next 25 years, the number of Wisconsin residents age 65+ to the state’s population will grow from 1 in 7 to1 in 4

3. Percentage of Population Age 65+

4. Workforce Report Documents Depth of the Crisis

5. Key Findings • High levels of caregiver vacancy rates • Major problems finding applicants • Significant wage disparity • Widespread use of overtime, double shifts & other strategies • Caregivers leaving for jobs outside healthcare • Lost admissions

6. Scope of the Problem • Average caregiver vacancy rate of 14.5% • 1 in 4 providers are experiencing vacancy rates of 20% and higher • Estimated 11,500vacant caregiver positions in long-term & residential care facilities • In less than 10 years, the need for personal care workers is projected to increase26.4%

7. Scope of the Problem • 70% reported no qualified applicants for vacant caregiver positions • 50% of providers had NOapplicants • 1 in 7caregiver positions are unfilled

8. Real People Really Care

9. Why is There a Growing Crisis? • Personal caregiver starting wage is $1.25per hour less than unskilled, non-health care, entry level workers • In the past 12 months, an estimated 10,600 personal caregivers left for jobs outside of health care • Between 2012 & 2015, 24%fewer people applied for certification as nursing assistants • 5,431fewer nursing assistants renewed their certification between 2012 & 2015

10. 9,696 7,957 7,849

11. Why Not Pay Caregivers More? • Medicaid & Family Care pay for a significant amount of the care provided in nursing homes and assisted living facilities • 2/3rds of nursing home residents rely on Medicaid to pay for their care • Wisconsin’s Medicaid nursing home reimbursement system is the worst in the country • 93% of respondents to a 2015 survey had not received an increase in Family Care rates in 5 years • Pay and benefits for nursing homes & assisted living facilities are directly linked to Medicaid and Family Care reimbursement

12. Providers Are Trying to Cope • 84% of the time, providers are relying on overtime, double shifts, temporary pool help and other strategies to fill open shifts • 50%do not offer health insurance benefits for part-time staff • 1 in 4have at least 10 employees on BadgerCare Plus • 18%limited admissions to their nursing homes or assisted living facilities • Implemented creative solutions: in-house training programs, flexible shifts, job sharing, etc.

13. Summary • The need for caregivers is growing dramatically • Caregiver vacancy rates are reaching crisis proportions • Median starting wages are not competitive with unskilled entry level non-health care jobs • People simply are not applying for caregiver jobs • Providers are relying on overtime, double shifts and other strategies to fill openings • Inadequate Medicaid reimbursement and Family Care rates are preventing providers from paying competitive wages

14. What Can You Do? • Support local and State initiatives to address workforce issues related to serving older adults and persons with a disability. Be a part of these conversations. • Ask your State Legislators and the Governor to help address the long-term care workforce crisis in the upcoming 2017-19 State Budget. • Ask them to help work with you on workforce funding, training and program issues as part of the Medicaid and Family Care programs.

15. Questions?