Questions, answers on aging, remaining at home

November 12, 2010

An opinion package on helping seniors remain in their homes solicited questions from readers for Ro Foege, interim director of the Iowa Department on Aging. The questions and answers are below.

Q. Are the direct care workers who help people in their homes licensed and does the state provide any oversight of these workers?

A. Home Care/Health Aides are not certified or licensed by the state. Some working in home care settings may have received training through their employer or may be a certified nursing assistant if they worked in a nursing facility in the past. There is no state recognized standard curriculum or certification for home care workers in Iowa at this time.

The Direct Care Worker Advisory Council, authorized by the Iowa Legislature, and administered by the Iowa Department of Public Health, defines a direct care worker as an individual who provides services, care, supervision, and emotional support to people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. The definition does not include licensed nurses, case managers, or social workers.

The good news is that the state's Direct Care Worker Advisory Council is working to establish a system that will credential, promote, and support the professionalism of the entire direct care workforce. The legislature has called for the establishment of a Board of Direct Care Workers by 2014.

These changes will help to ensure that older Iowans, and Iowans with a disability, receive the best care possible in the setting of their choice and that direct care workers will finally receive the professional status they deserve.

For more information about the recommendations of the Direct Care Worker Advisory Council.: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/hcr_committees/direct_care_workers.asp
Q: Can I just call an area agency the Register referenced and someone will come to my house and assess what my mom might be able to get help with? Is this free? Are any services my mom might receive free?

A: There is no charge for someone from your local Area Agency on Aging to do an assessment for an older Iowan.   A Plan of Care may be developed based on individual needs, which identifies specific services for which there may be a cost to the individual, based on resources and functional abilities.  To find out what services might be the best fit for your situation and their cost, we recommend contacting your local Area Agency on Aging.  You can do this by calling the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging at 1-866-468-7887 or going to the web site www.i4a.org .  You may also find a broad range of information on community services and supports at Iowa’s virtual Aging and Disability Resource Center at www.LifeLongLinks.org
Q: What’s the average wage for direct care workers who work in people’s homes?

A: The average wage for direct care workers who work in home care in Iowa, based on an estimate from 2008, is approximately $10 hourly. The average wage for ALL OCCUPATIONS in Iowa (also from 2008) was over $14 hourly.
Q: Can I get my mom a ride to the local senior center once a week for lunch?

A: Many of Iowa’s Area Agencies on Aging provide transportation assistance.  There are over 40  community based services that Area Agencies on Aging may provide to older Iowans to help support them in staying in their homes. To find an Area Agency on Aging near you, go to www.i4a.org  or call 1-866-468-7887.  To learn about a broad range of services available to older Iowans and challenged adults, visit Iowa’s virtual Aging and Disability Resource Center at www.LifeLongLinks.org.