Washington state faces significant workforce challenges in long-term care. A team of UW CHWS investigators has been collaborating with the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board to identify which occupations have high turnover and long vacancies in the state. According to this legislative report, “Extensive and prolonged staff vacancies leave beds empty and result in service delays due to an inability to safely and effectively care for a highly vulnerable population.” The findings from this report were noted by KHQ News.
Work is underway to understand the barriers and facilitators to working in home health, findings which will be released in a future report.
This report is part of the Washington Long-Term Care Workforce Research study, funded by the Washington State Workforce Technical and Education Coordinating Board.