Pennsylvania’s aging services providers, including nursing homes, senior living communities and home and community-based services, continue to sound the alarm about their ongoing workforce crisis. We don’t have enough qualified workers to care for Pennsylvania’s fast-growing older population, due to costly staffing agencies and limited government support.
To help, LeadingAge PA, a nonprofit association advocating for seniors and mission- driven aging services providers, has launched Career Growth Partners, a collaboration with educational institutions that provides staff with exclusive access to discounted tuition rates for undergraduate and graduate degrees. It also offers certifications and opportunities to advance careers through shadowing, mentorship, hands-on training and customized curriculum that addresses the unique needs and challenges of aging services.
Current partners include Carlow University, Central Penn College, Chestnut Hill College, Drexel University, Elizabethtown College, Harrisburg University, Marywood University, Messiah University, St. Joseph’s University and K-12 Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA).
LeadingAge PA also provides scholarships, grants and resources aimed at hiring, retention and more. For instance, our “Careers to Love PA” initiative helps job seekers find meaningful career opportunities in aging services.
Erin McDermott
Mechanicsburg