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Arizona organization is training CNAs, caregivers to build the nursing home workforce

Long-term care facilities across the country continue to struggle with staffing shortages. It’s not a new problem; but new solutions are needed, especially since many older adults will likely need support. 

Growing older isn’t always easy. Many older adults will need help, either in the form of light housekeeping, for example, or 24-hour care. But there’s a serious shortage of certified nursing assistants and caregivers. And that’s what ACHA WORKS aims to fix. 

David Voepel is the CEO of AHCA — the Arizona Health Care Association — which represents nursing homes. AHCA WORKS is its newly minted workforce development program. 

"We have been training a little over 180 CNAs and caregivers since May 1. And like I said, it's ramping up. We're due over a two-year period, our average month should be about 65, CNAs and caregivers," said Voepel.

The program is funded by a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act. The goal, he says, is to train staff in long-term care, as well support recruitment and retention efforts. 

Finding and training certified nursing assistants and caregivers in long-term care is an ongoing challenge. Even before COVID-19, nursing homes struggled to hire and retain these individuals. 

"It's a really good service for the CNA and caregiver because it pays for their training and helps them stay at a facility or a community using a preceptor program," Voepel said.

KJZZ senior field correspondent Kathy Ritchie has 20 years of experience reporting and writing stories for national and local media outlets — nearly a decade of it has been spent in public media.