A $3.5 million Affordable Care Act grant to the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education will allow it to expand its home-grown, home-caregiver training in Arkansas and three other states that have adopted it.
In 2005, the center developed the ElderStay@home Family Caregiver Series, which included versions for professional caregivers and family members.
In almost all states currently, there is no licensing or certification for in-home caregivers, said Dr. Larry D. Wright, center executive director.
“The American public assumes we require training, but it’s not true,” he said. “Right now we require more training for people who do dog grooming.”
In addition to the Arkansas site, curriculum expansions during the 3-year grant period will happen at the University of Hawaii, Kapi’olani Community College, in Honolulu; WISE & Healthy Aging of Santa Monica, Calif.; and Central Texas Aging & Disability Resource Center of Belton, Texas.
The federal grant is one of 81 new Health Innovation Awards the new health care law is providing.