Question

1. What topics in continuing education do you think your caregiving staff will need in 10 years that are not typically covered today? Name at least 5 topics. Why will these topics be so important? Where would you obtain this education for your staff?

2. Given that there is a shortage of front-line caregivers in our country, what are some innovative ways to recruit and retain top caregiving talent, particularly for the assisted/senior living environment? Include at least 5 creative ways to recruit, and at least 5 creative ways to retain.

Answer 1

Continuing Education topics for Care givers:

A Caregiver is a person who supports and assist an elderly or a person with disability. Continuing Education is important for all healthcare workers and Caregivers. C.E Topics, that Caregiver staffs need in 10 yrs , that typically not covered today are:

1. Importance of Use of Artificial intelligence in care giving

2. Machine learning implications in Assisted living facilities

3. Home care and treatment for COVID 19

4. Importance of PPE use in aged care facility

5. Robotic assistance in Caregiving

Importance of the topic: This is an era of Artificial intelligence and machine learning. All areas of human involvement including health care is in control of Artificial intelligence. A small example is your mobile phone. There will be word predictions, while you start typing a word. That is an example of Artificial intelligence. Many advanced technologies, apps and devises are there to assist a person with disability. After some years , these will be common in every home or Assisted care facilities. So caregivers should know the theory and working principles of Artificial intelligence and Machine learning. Robotic assistance are getting poplar in hospitals and other care centers for Caregiving. Caregivers should have an idea about the working of Robots also.

As COVID 19 is spreading day by day in around the globe, it might become as common as influenza. So Caregivers have to know about the care and treatment for COVID 19, as there will not be adequate hospitals for these patients. They have to know about the correct use of Personal Protective equipment ( PPEs), that was not common in the environment outside the hospitals.  

Sources, from where one can obtain the C.E :

* Internet  

* Resource persons from medical and nursing fields

* learning materials notes and pdfs

* Journals and other magazines related to health and health care technology.

2 . Shortage of frontline caregivers: There are and there will be huge shortage of Caregivers as the aging population are getting increased day by day. There are innovative ways to recruit and retain Caregivers, some of the ways are:

Creative ways to recruit:

* Online advertisements and use of social media: paid and non paid advertisements and posts in the social media can cover millions of people

* Own websites : Advertisements and notifications for fresh recruitment can attract many candidates

* Job fairs: a very good source for finding the applicants and make sure the follow ups

* College recruiting or campus interviews : Another major area for recruitment is campus interviews. The organisation can recruit Eligible outgoing students, who are going to finish the course.

* Referrals from applicants : Ask the applicants to referr their friends and acquaintance for the job.

Creative ways to retain:

* Reward good performers and give incentives

* Allot some time for fun for caregivers

* Thank you note: A ' Thank you note' is a simple and inexpensive way to motivate a ccaregiver

* Give scheduling preferences: Allow them to work in their preferred time schedules , so that they can do a second job or can get time for their personal matters.

* Provide a safe working environment and promote healthy lifestyles: Caregivers will be satisfied, if they have a safe working environment, that is free from harassments and unfair treatment based on colour or ethnicity. Also promote healthy life style in them by providing them facilities for exercise, relaxation, regular physical check ups, healthy food (especially resident care givers) etc.