Using Recovery Act Funds to Improve Direct Care Jobs and the Quality of Direct Care Services


 

Publication Date:

Publisher: Center for Economic and Policy Research

Author(s): Shawn Fremstad

Research Area: Health

Keywords: Health care providers; Job creation; Medicine

Type: Brief

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Direct care workers, including nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal and home care aides, constitute one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the low-wage workforce. Strategies to improve the quality of these jobs can help promote economic recovery and expand the middle class. This policy brief provides an overview of direct care work and discusses how Recovery Act funds can be used to address some of the challenges faced by direct care workers. The charts at the end provide detail on the programs discussed.