Arizona Health Care Association launches career path website

The Arizona Health Care Association (AHCA) is working to grow the long-term caregiver workforce.

AHCA launched a website that connects people interested in long-term care careers with educational resources and professionals in the field.

“Workforce is a major focus for us this year,” Krysten Dobson, AHCA director of member services, said. “The need for caregivers in long-term care is essential to make sure the quality of care for our residences [is] maintain[ed].”

According to Dobson, the need for long-term caregivers is important because of the influx of Baby Boomers beginning to seek long-term care.

In fact, the American Health Care Association predicts the population of those aged 75 and older will more than triple by 2040.

“Increases in health care demands will be seen throughout the health care industry, with the greatest impacts anticipated in hospitals, skilled nursing, assisted living, and residential care facilities,” the American Health Care Association reports.

Dobson, who manages the website for the association, said the goal is to bring awareness to these career paths and build a workforce that can meet the growing needs.

“This website sheds a positive light on career paths within long-term care, which are often overlooked,” Dobson said. “When you think of nursing, you often think of emergency rooms and hospitals and long-term care often gets left out. I think having these resources in front of you and spreading the word that there are opportunities in long-term care is important.”

Users can browse the site to find out more about careers in long-term care fields such as nursing, social services, and rehabilitation services. The information on the website includes job descriptions, typical salary, and education requirements, as well as provides connections within the field.

AHCA created the site with help from the Indiana Health Care Association that launched a similar site a couple of years ago.

Sites like AHCA’s could help the physician and nurse shortages that Arizona is facing.

To see the site, click here.