THE NEED FOR A CULTURALLY COMPETENT WORKFORCE TO ADDRESS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Abstract

As more individuals of color are aging and need long-term services and supports, it is imperative that the home care workforce is trained to handle diseases specific to them. PHI, a national organization that aims to enhance the lives of people who need care by improving the lives of the workers who provide that care, offers disease-specific training for direct care workers so that they are equipped to give culturally appropriate care. For instance, when working with African American elders who face high rates of hypertension and diabetes, direct care workers who have received training in those areas will be equipped to notice if an elder is having a diabetic or cardiac episode and call for interventions. This paper addresses PHI’s state- and national-level strategies to ensure that home care workers have knowledge and skills to ensure the inclusion of and effective supportive care for an increasingly diverse older population. After attending this session, participants will: Identify the need for disease-specific training to ensure culturally appropriate home care Communicate strategies utilized by PHI to prepare home care workers able to address diversity in an inclusive manner