A discussion centering around solutions to Iowa’s care gap crisis will take place in Atlantic next Thursday, Sept. 26th. Direct care professionals, consumers, and other stakeholders will start the discussion on solving the care gap crisis. Community members are invited to join in and share their stories.The “Are We Prepared to Care?” – Community forum on the care gap crisis will be held at the Cass County Community Center, 805 W. 10th Street in Atlantic, from 8-am to 9:30-a.m. on the 26th. The event is Co-hosted by IowaWORKS, Iowa Western Community College, AARP Iowa, Iowa CareGivers, Iowa Department of Public Health, and Direct Care Workforce Initiative.

The discussion is necessary, according to event organizers, because Iowa faces a critical shortage of direct care professionals, the front-line workers who provide care and support to people with disabilities or health conditions in individuals’ homes, community-based settings, and facilities. Direct care professionals are already Iowa’s largest workforce, currently numbering about 75,000. Virtually everyone will connect with direct care professionals at some point, whether for themselves or a loved one experiencing aging, illness, injury, or disability.

But demand is growing fast, and the current direct care workforce is not enough. Iowa needs almost 20,000 more direct care professionals by 2020. The problem is made worse by high turnover in this workforce, estimated at 64 percent annually. That costs Iowans too much – about $2.1 billion between 2012 and 2020 – and makes it hard for consumers to have continuity in services. Iowa must build a skilled workforce to meet our communities’ care and support needs.

If you have any questions, contact Stacie Bendixen at 515-237-0338.