MORRISVILLE, N.C. (June 2, 2021)—Relias, a trusted partner to more than 11,000 health care organizations and 4.5 million caregivers around the world, announced the launch of its new solution to help home health agencies take control of their staffing shortages by developing their own pipeline of home health aides.
Relias’ new Home Health Aide Certification Program uses the latest in educational technology to help agencies meet the rapidly growing demand for home health services. The virtual learning environment equips agencies with the tools to run their own home health aide training programs and creates a pool of candidates to hire. With an in-house training program, agencies can recruit individuals from outside of the home health market, including workers across the country who were displaced from their jobs by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. population of adults age 65 and older is expected to grow from 49.2 million in 2016 to 77 million by 2034, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects home health aide employment to grow at a rate of 34%—equal to more than 1.1 million jobs—by 2029.
The COVID-19 pandemic amplifies the already growing demand for home health services as hospitals discharge more patients directly to the home, bypassing other care settings. But with turnover rates ranging from 35% to more than 80%, agencies struggle to meet the ever-increasing demand for home health services.
“There’s a very limited pool of home health aides in the market. The pond is getting fished out, so we need to take it upon ourselves to create a new source of caregivers," said Kevin Knapp, president of Right at Home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. "The battleground has switched from the client to the caregivers. We can get the clients, we can't get the caregivers.”
How the program works
The Home Health Aide Certification Program helps home health agencies address staffing issues that can hinder their ability to grow by providing the infrastructure needed to build their own home health aide training program.
- The learning platform allows agencies to quickly and easily manage a large number of students across many courses.
- The classes are delivered by live instructors and offer an engaging, state-approved curriculum and clinical skills checks to prepare students for roles in the health care field.
- The online curriculum provides interactive activities such as puzzles and flash cards designed to help students enjoy the learning experience.
- Mobile-friendly check-in tools and mentorship courses ensure that new caregivers feel supported and can thrive in their new work environment.
The program gives agencies the opportunity to build closer relationships with students and in turn, students have a more intimate understanding of the agency’s values and culture. Upon graduation of the program, this familiarity helps to make a smooth transition into employment and to increase retention.
The Relias program allows agencies to quickly and effectively educate their next generation of homecare professionals.
“Agency owners/operators need home health aides to grow their business,” Relias Chief Product Officer Mike Mutka said. “They can’t bring on new clients if there aren’t any caregivers to serve those clients, and their brand hinges on the quality and reliability of their caregiving team. Relias’ Home Health Aide Certification Program is the most direct route to solving staff shortages, creating employment opportunities in this vibrant and rewarding field, and providing care for older patients.”
Visit relias.com for more information.
