TCER has collaborated with a variety of organizations around evaluation and research projects related to aging and elder care. It has collaborated with the Iowa Department on Aging to explore the capacity of the state to provide for individual, systems, and performance measures in response to the Proposed National Evaluation Framework.  Other projects include the development of a family development matrix for aging, work with the Aging and Disability Resource Centers, falls prevention coalition building and education, oral health care among the elderly who are homebound or in residential care, and a network analysis of collaboration in the Growing Bolder nutrition network.

Featured Project

Evaluation of the Iowa Personal and Home Care Aide State Training Demonstration Project

The Iowa Department of Public Health received a Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) grant to develop and implement the Iowa Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST) project.  The NRC/TCER was contracted to provide evaluation expertise to measure direct care worker knowledge, retention and job satisfaction and provided recommendations for ongoing program improvement.

Turnover is a concern in the direct care field as high turnover rates may lead to worker shortages, reduced quality of care, and stress for direct care professionals. Existing literature demonstrates that training and learning opportunities can decrease turnover and increase overall job satisfaction. The Iowa Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST) project provided training and developed direct care professional credentialing in the state of Iowa through 6 training modules developed as part of the grant, with a goal of increasing employee satisfaction and retention.

The evaluation, directed and implemented by the NRC, examined the effects of the training modules on direct care worker knowledge, retention and job satisfaction and the extent to which the training could be associated with the development of a stable, well-qualified, and flexible direct care workforce.  Pre- and post-test knowledge scores among treatment and control groups were assessed along with ongoing employment information, interviews with families/caregivers, and interviews with those who have terminated employment.  Test results show that changes in mean knowledge scores were significant for all modules in the treatment group.

This evaluation also gathered demographic information about the direct care workforce. The treatment group was 84.6% female, 78.1% white; 40.9% had “some college”.  79.6% have been in their current position for less than one year, while 62.5% have worked in the direct care field for two years or more.

Results and recommendations from this evaluation will provide ongoing process and program improvement information to the Iowa Department of Public Health.

 

All Projects

Lifelong Links Quality Assurance and Improvement Evaluation

The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) LifeLong Links resource provides information and one-on-one person-centered counseling to people of all ages, incomes, and disabilities.  The evaluation measured the current processes of quality measurement for LifeLong Links programs throughout the state.  The goal of the evaluation was to assess current processes and develop standardized quality assurance and improvement guidelines in accordance with draft national quality framework for Aging and Disability Resource Centers.  Results were used for quality assurance and improvement for the program.

Evaluation of Iowa CareGivers Association's Certified Nurse Assistant Mentor Training Project

Certified Nurse Assistants, Home Care Aides, Patient Care Technicians, and other direct care/support workers deliver 80-90% of care in Iowa’s nursing facilities.  The Iowa CareGivers Association implemented the CNA Mentoring Program to further address the needs of veteran CNAs and those just entering the field.  This evaluation examines the effectiveness of the Iowa CareGivers Association CNA Mentoring Program specifically as a means of worker retention. CER conducted surveys assessing skills learned, mentor/mentee relationships, pay increases, and worker retention, with results used to advise the program.