Created nearly 30 years ago, the nonprofit social impact organization PHI focuses on transforming eldercare and disability services. The organization is a leading authority on the direct care workforce, an industry sector characterized by low wages and benefits, and few opportunities for workers to advance.

PHI’s work addresses longstanding challenges home care agencies and nursing homes face such as finding enough skilled workers to provide hands-on care and daily support to their clients, especially as large numbers of the U.S. population age and more need long-term care.

The organization conducts it work by collaborating with direct care workers and their clients in cities, suburbs, and small towns across the U.S. to:

• Research best practices in meeting the needs of direct care workers and their clients, in a variety of long-term care settings.
  • Studies trends related to compensation, training, career advancement, health coverage, and other key demographics.
  • Policy barriers facing direct care workers within long-term services and supports and workforce initiatives.
  • Informs the field about gaps in research on the direct care workforce.
  • Offers the National Direct Care Workforce Resource Center, an online library of information on the direct care workforce.
• Implement best practices through hands-on coaching, training, and consulting, to help long-term care providers deliver high-quality care including achieving cost efficiencies and reducing staff turnover.
  • Work with executive leaders, supervisors, and front-line staff to create systems of care that honor the relationship between the direct care worker and the client.
  • Design entry-level and advanced training programs and curricula for direct care workers that improve educational and employment outcomes, as well as job satisfaction.
  • Coordinate trainings, retreats, and presentations on the latest issues facing long-term care such as recruitment, retention, household models, etc.
• Support policymakers and advocates in crafting evidence-based policies to advance quality care.
  • Advocates for federal and state reforms that prioritize quality care and quality jobs.
  • Partners with government leaders and policy analysts to identify the factors shaping long-term care (workforce training, advanced roles).
  • Works in coalition with leading policy advocates to host briefings and roundtables, release critical reports, and shape media coverage on the policies impacting long-term care.

Examples of Work

• Eldercare Workforce Alliance
  • Co-founded this Alliance of 34 national organizations working to address the workforce crisis in caring for an aging America
• Entry-level home health aide curriculum
  • Designed this curriculum that dramatically improves retention.
• #60CaregiverIssues
  • Launched a 2-year public education campaign that identified 60 ideas to help solve the workforce shortage in home care.
• PHI Coaching Approach®,
  • Created an evidence-based approach to training and change management services that strengthens leadership, communication, and team-building skills

Resources

Organization Webpage: phinational.org/

Workforce Resource Center: phinational.org/national-resource-center/