Senator Boxer Introduces Legislation To Help Address Critical Shortage In Health Care Workers For Older Americans

March 4, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today introduced the Caring for an Aging America Act, legislation aimed at addressing the crisis in providing care for a senior population that is projected to almost double over the next 25 years.

Senator Boxer said, “When our mothers and fathers and grandparents reach their golden years, they deserve quality care for their health and long-term care needs. But the medical and health community is already struggling to meet the demand for geriatric health care and support services, and the need for trained professionals is only growing. This legislation will provide incentives to help encourage qualified practitioners to join the geriatrics and gerontology fields.”

The Caring for an Aging America Act would provide $130 million in federal funding over five years to attract and retain trained health care professionals and direct-care workers by providing them with loan forgiveness and career advancement opportunities.

Specifically, Boxer’s legislation would link educational loan repayment to a service commitment to the aging population. The bill would establish the Geriatric and Gerontology Loan Repayment Program for physicians, physician assistants, advance practice nurses, psychologists, and social workers who complete specialty training in geriatrics or gerontology and agree to provide full-time clinical practice and service to older adults for a minimum of two years. It would also expand eligibility for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program to include registered nurses who complete specialty training and provide nursing services to older adults in long-term care settings.

This bill would expand career advancement opportunities for nursing and direct care workers by offering specialty training in long-term care services through the existing Career Ladders Grants Program. The measure would also create a Health and Long-Term Care Workforce Advisory Panel for an Aging America to examine and advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Labor and Congress on workforce issues related to health and long-term care for the aging population.

According to the Alliance for Aging Research, proper geriatric care could reduce hospital, nursing home, and home care costs by at least 10 percent a year, saving $267 billion in 2020. The aging population in America is estimated to double from 36 million today to nearly 72 million by 2030.

The Boxer bill is endorsed by the American Geriatrics Society, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, The Alliance for Retired Americans, National Council on Aging, Alzheimer’s Association, Council on Social Work Education, Alliance for Aging Research, OWL-The Voice of Midlife and Older Women, National Association for Geriatric Education, National Association of Geriatric Centers, and National Association of Social Workers.

Source: Senator Barbara Boxer

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