News 8 Rochester Examines Aide Shortages and HCA’s ‘Home Care First’ Solution
The report tells of Gerald Sullivan Junior of Brockport who has had three major strokes since he was 19. His right side is mostly paralyzed. Two years ago, he had a serious fall.
Reporter Christian Garzone explains some of the reasons for New York’s workforce shortages affecting individuals like Sullivan — especially in the pandemic — including constraints on aide training programs.
In addition to more flexibility for virtual-hybrid models of aide training, HCA is calling for a ‘Home Care First’ agenda to better support workforce recruitment and retention, systemic investments, and program incentives to make home care a primary option.
“The newly passed state budget contains $1.6 billion in federal aid for home and community-based services, and the President is proposing new levels of investment in these services," said HCA President Al Cardillo in the report. "The time is now to channel these investments accordingly to support this home health system.”