Eskaton Responds to the Caregiver Shortage by Launching Live Well at Home Caregiver Academy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (PRWEB) July 23, 2018

Eskaton, a nonprofit organization serving seniors for 50 years, focuses on innovative solutions to workforce development challenges. One area of focus is the lack of qualified caregivers to provide in-home services to the aging population and people with disabilities.
"It is a challenge to find enough caregivers to meet the demands of the market," said Tom Bollum, Executive Director at Live Well at Home by Eskaton.

Of the 10,000 Baby Boomers who turn 65 every day, more than half will eventually need some form of long-term care. According to the Chicago Tribune, the shortage of caregivers has reached a crisis level. Providers across the country are routinely reporting they can't find and retain enough direct care workers.

"The Caregiver Academy is designed to attract and train those with a heart for caring," said Bollum. "Attendees must first be accepted into the program. Then they will learn crucial caregiver skills, personal care, activities of daily living (ADLs), nutrition, food safety and dementia care." To pre-qualify for this free training, each applicant must first complete a California Home Care Aide registration and Live Scan.

Graduates of the Live Well at Home Caregiver Academy will qualify to be hired as a caregiver though they will not be required to work for Live Well at Home, and there is no guarantee of being offered a job. However, more than 90 percent of the academy's graduates choose to work with Live Well at Home following the training. "We are seeing some great caregivers come out of the class," concluded Bollum. "Many of the attendees are thrilled that we are willing to make an investment in them. Most agencies are only hiring experienced caregivers, and if you haven't worked as a caregiver, how do you get that experience?"

The California Employment Development Department projects 200,000 new homecare workers will be needed by 2024. In California, the number of people over 65 is expected to grow from 5.2 million (2015) to 9 million (2030). If the home care industry expanded to cover all those who have a need for care, as many as 3.2 million additional workers will be needed by 2030.

The next week-long academy starts July 23, 2018, and two more are scheduled for August. For more information about the Eskaton Caregiver Academy and to register, please visit http://livewellathome.com/home-accessibility/caregiver-academy or call (916) 878-4730.

About Eskaton
The Sacramento region is home to Eskaton, a nonprofit senior care provider offering innovative housing, healthcare and social services. Every day thousands of older adults enjoy retirement at our independent senior living communities and receive the care they need through assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care, rehabilitation and in-home care programs. With five decades of experience and a national reputation for innovation, Eskaton is Transforming the Aging Experience. For more information, please call 1-866-ESKATON, or visit http://www.eskaton.org/.

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