Assisted Living Home Direct Care Worker Learning and Technology Interests and Needs

Abstract

Background: A growing subset of 4.5 million United States (US) direct care workers (DCWs) provides the majority of hands-on care for senior residents living in assisted living (AL) settings. The assisted living home (ALH) is a popular and the smallest type of assisted living residence and requires the employment of DCWs. Federal data and oversite are currently limited, and state licensure varies, yet this is a growing component of care. The DCWs needs are unknown due to few available studies that focus on the DCWs needs. Purpose: To explore and describe the learning and technology interests and needs of this isolated but growing community of DCWs working in ALHs from the perspective of the DCW, the guiding question is, what are the self-identified learning and technology interests and needs of the direct care worker, working in the assisted living home? Methods: A human factor (HF) framework underpinned the interpersonal perspective used during this exploratory inquiry, guiding the preliminary literature reviews and research design. A purposive sample of DCWs were interviewed one-on-one using semi-structured questions using a qualitative descriptive (QD) methodology. Data analysis included qualitative content analysis from transcribed taped interviews. Results: Significant study findings include that DCWs (n=14 females/median age 41) are interested in work-related topics, should include direct care skill development, and acknowledge resident complexity. They usually have access to technology for accessing health-related information and use multiple kinds of health-related technology to care for ALH residents. DCWs work hard and have extended work hours, with minimal time off to attend educational offerings. They also have an expanded scope of practice than other similar environments, have a high level of workplace risk of injury, low salary, and are underrepresented and lack acknowledgment in the literature. Conclusions: More knowledge about the DCW in the ALH environment must be available and should address intervention and practice research. More policies at the federal and state levels, including oversite, are needed to address DCW data needs, DCW pay inequity, and resident and DCW injury.