Bringing it Home: AARP Iowa Member Opinion on Direct Care Worker Quality and Long-Term Care Access

The opinions, experiences and expectations of 2,187 AARP Iowa members regarding the people, other than nurses, who provide hands-on personal care in individuals' homes and nursing homes are reported in these combined results of the AARP Iowa Nursing Home Care Survey and the AARP Iowa Home Care Survey. The surveys, which were undertaken as part of an effort to address anticipated worker shortages, found members expect quality long-term services to be available, but not necessarily affordable, for them or their loved ones in either their own homes or nursing homes, and favor improved caregiver training, certification and benefits.

Among those surveyed...

• 88 percent believe it is important for the State of Iowa to test and certify hands-on care providers in nursing homes, and 79 percent feel that those who provide such care in the home should also be tested and certified
  
  
• 84 percent of home care survey respondents and 79 percent of nursing home survey respondents believe that “staff people who provide hands-on personal care should have affordable health care insurance coverage”
  
  
• 73 percent would prefer to obtain a home care person for a relative through an established home care agency

Both mail surveys were conducted by AARP Knowledge Management in partnership with the Iowa CareGivers Association between October 10th and November 14th, 2005. The nursing home survey received 1,000 responses, and the home care survey received 1,187. Further information about the survey may be obtained by contacting Dr. Silberman, the report's author, at 202-434-6339. (42 pages)