KARE, the leading digital labor marketplace for post-acute and senior care, in collaboration with the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA), has completed its groundbreaking three-part study, "Trauma and Resilience." This comprehensive report sheds light on the unseen challenges faced by senior and post-acute care staff, referred to as the "careforce," and explores the intersection of trauma, mental health, and social determinants of health on this group of employees. The study, conducted with input from 1,142 careforce professionals across the U.S., highlights the critical issues affecting caregivers' well-being and the implications for workforce retention and quality care delivery. The findings emphasize the urgent need for systemic solutions and support for a workforce navigating profound personal and professional challenges.
HOUSTON, Jan. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- KARE, the leading digital labor marketplace for post-acute and senior care, in collaboration with the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA), has completed its groundbreaking three-part study, "Trauma and Resilience." This comprehensive report sheds light on the unseen challenges faced by senior and post-acute care staff, referred to as the "careforce," and explores the intersection of trauma, mental health, and social determinants of health on this group of employees.
The study, conducted with input from 1,142 careforce professionals across the U.S., highlights the critical issues affecting caregivers' well-being and the implications for workforce retention and quality care delivery. The findings emphasize the urgent need for systemic solutions and support for a workforce navigating profound personal and professional challenges.
An Overview of KARE's "Trauma and Resilience" Series
Part One: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Today's Careforce explores how childhood trauma impacts the careforce. Key findings include:
- 73% of the careforce faces intermediate to high levels of toxic stress.
- 34% of the careforce are at high risk of toxic stress due to having four or more ACEs, double the U.S. population.
- RNs reported the highest average ACEs score of 3.2, compared to the careforce average of 2.7.
Part Two: The Influence of Mental Health and Personal Well-Being in the Workplace examines the workplace implications of trauma and the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights include:
- 25% of the careforce feels their ACEs currently affect their physical health and 50% reported their ACEs affect their current mental health.
- Almost half of the careforce feels the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their mental and physical health.
Part Three: How Social Determinants of Health Can Build a Better Future investigates the current state of social determinants of health (SDOH) in shaping the careforce's future. Key findings include:
- 27% of respondents experienced food insecurity, nearly double the U.S. adult average.
- 23% reported housing instability, compared to 12.9% of U.S. adults.
- High-risk respondents (4+ ACEs) consistently faced greater challenges in SDOH domains, including utility needs and interpersonal safety.
A Call to Action
"KARE's Trauma and Resilience study provides insight and data on the hidden reality and challenges faced by the workforce," said Katie Rhone, KARE's SVP of HERO and Employee Experience. "By understanding trauma's impact, we can foster empathy, provide targeted interventions- including greater mental health support, and create a more resilient careforce."
Jean Hartnett, MHSA, NHA, CDP, YTT, CNA, founder of Radical Sabbatical, added: "For the careforce to provide trauma-informed care to residents, they must first understand their own adversities and begin a path toward healing. This series provides a starting point to understand the prevalence and severity of trauma in the careforce and offers a starting point for healing and support."
Additional Contributors
The report reflects the expertise of:
- Lindsay B. Schwartz, Ph.D., FGSA – Founder & Principal at Workforce & Quality Innovations, LLC
- Jean Hartnett, MHSA, NHA, CDP, YTT, CNA – Founder, Radical Sabbatical
Learn More and Download the Full Series
The full "Trauma and Resilience" series can be downloaded at https://kare.work/TraumaSeries.
***Attention Colorado senior living, skilled nursing, and CCRC leaders!***
Join us for KONNECTIONS | DENVER, an exclusive event designed for senior care leaders to collaborate, innovate, and address the industry's most pressing challenges - staffing, recruiting, and retention.
Join us Wednesday, January 22, 2025 for:
- A Keynote Address by Dr. Michelle K. Johnston, author of The Seismic Shift in Leadership.
- Insights from KARE's years of research on how senior care operators make poor assumptions about how to address staffing, recruiting, and retention.
- An Interactive Think Tank session to tackle recruitment, staffing, and scheduling challenges.
- Esteemed speakers, including Charles Turner, CEO of KARE, Cambria Jacobs, CEO of AgeTech Colorado, and Jack York, Co-Founder – iN2L Founder and Chief Story Teller, TaleGate.
This free event is your chance to gain actionable insights, connect with peers, and shape the future of senior care. Space is limited—register by January 17, 2025, at https://kare.work/KonnectionsDenver. Don't miss out!
About KARE KARE is the leading digital labor marketplace for post-acute and senior care, connecting caregivers, nurses, and hospitality staff with senior care communities and nursing homes. KARE empowers caregiving Heroes to quickly fill open shifts, giving them the flexibility to choose where and when they work. Based in Houston, Texas, KARE is revolutionizing the industry with its innovative approach to staffing solutions.
Media Contact
Jim Davidson, KARE, 1 (832) 380-8740, [email protected], doyoukare.com
SOURCE KARE
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