Supporting Direct Care Workers During the Coronavirus Crisis

Survey for direct care workers, consumers, family members, advocates, and others

Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts on COVID-19 and the direct care workforce. We welcome observations about what is happening in nursing homes, assisted living, home care, and/or other long-term care settings.

Your answers, which will be anonymous, will help us raise awareness, build support, and disseminate best practices for supporting direct care workers (and their employers) through this unprecedented crisis.

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* 1. What are your biggest concerns about the direct care workforce right now? (check all that apply)

I am worried that...

Direct care workers will become infected with COVID-19

Direct care workers don’t have enough knowledge/skills on infection prevention and control

Direct care workers are too busy to implement best practices in infection prevention and control

Direct care workers are exhausted and may burn out

Direct care workers will carry the virus from the community to their residents or clients

Direct care workers will have to leave their jobs to care for their children or other relatives

Direct care workers will choose to leave their jobs because of fear about the coronavirus

Morale among direct care workers is worsening (i.e. workers are anxious, stressed, depressed)

Reduced census or service hours will lead to fewer hours for direct care workers (i.e. if residents or clients discontinue care due to safety concerns or for other reasons)

Reduced visits from family members will place a greater burden on direct care workers

There won't be enough direct care workers to replace those who take time off or leave their jobs

Other (please describe):

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* 2. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 1:

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* 3. What are direct care workers’ biggest fears right now, in your opinion? (check all that apply)

I think direct care workers are worried that…

Their residents or clients will become ill with COVID-19

They themselves will become infected with COVID-19

They will spread the coronavirus to their families and communities

They will have to stop working to care for their children, other relatives, or themselves

They don’t have enough knowledge/skills on infection prevention and control

They don’t have the right equipment to implement best practices in infection prevention and control

They don’t have enough time to implement best practices in infection prevention and control

Their hours will be reduced (or they may be laid-off) if residents or clients discontinue their care

They will become financially unstable due to the coronavirus crisis

They will be blamed if COVID-19 spreads to their residents or clients

Other (please describe):

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* 4. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 3:

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* 5. How are long-term care employers supporting direct care workers during this crisis? (check all that apply)

Long-term care employers are supporting workers by...

Providing extra training on infection prevention and control

Providing workers with extra personal protective equipment and supplies

Communicating with workers regularly about the crisis and their response

Providing food for workers (e.g. offering meals on site or providing take-home meals)

Showing appreciation for workers in new or different ways

Offering financial support to workers who are in most need (e.g. cash assistance, gift cards, emergency loans)

Implementing more flexible scheduling to allow workers to meet their personal caregiving responsibilities

Providing paid sick days for workers who have to stay home due to the coronavirus

Providing paid leave for workers who have to stay home to care for their children or other loved ones

Implementing plans to fill staffing shortages when workers have to take time off

Providing referrals for assistance with childcare, housing, and other needs

Offering emotional/mental health support within the organization or referring workers to external resources

Other (please describe):

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* 6. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 5:

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* 7. What barriers are preventing long-term care employers from fully supporting direct care workers, in your opinion? (please check all that apply)

They don't have enough personal protective equipment or supplies for workers

They don’t have enough back-up staff to cover workers who have to take time off

They don’t have enough information or resources on how to address workforce issues during the crisis

They are too busy responding to patients and families’ needs to address workforce issues

They don't have enough funds to invest in training, employment supports, and other workforce needs

Other (please describe):

Supporting Direct Care Workers During the Coronavirus Crisis

Survey for direct care workers, consumers, family members, advocates, and others

Question Title

* 1. What are your biggest concerns about the direct care workforce right now? (check all that apply)

I am worried that...

Question Title

* 2. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 1:

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* 3. What are direct care workers’ biggest fears right now, in your opinion? (check all that apply)

I think direct care workers are worried that…

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* 4. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 3:

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* 5. How are long-term care employers supporting direct care workers during this crisis? (check all that apply)

Long-term care employers are supporting workers by...

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* 6. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 5:

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* 7. What barriers are preventing long-term care employers from fully supporting direct care workers, in your opinion? (please check all that apply)

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* 8. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 7:

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* 9. Overall, what is your biggest fear for direct care workers during the coronavirus crisis?

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* 10. Overall, what would help direct care workers the most right now?

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* 11. Is there anything else that we should know about supporting direct care workers during the coronavirus crisis?

Supporting Direct Care Workers During the Coronavirus Crisis

Survey for direct care workers, consumers, family members, advocates, and others

Question Title

* 1. What are your biggest concerns about the direct care workforce right now? (check all that apply)I am worried that...

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* 2. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 1:

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* 3. What are direct care workers’ biggest fears right now, in your opinion? (check all that apply)I think direct care workers are worried that…

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* 4. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 3:

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* 5. How are long-term care employers supporting direct care workers during this crisis? (check all that apply)Long-term care employers are supporting workers by...

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* 6. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 5:

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* 7. What barriers are preventing long-term care employers from fully supporting direct care workers, in your opinion? (please check all that apply)

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* 8. Please tell us more about any of your answers to Question 7:

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* 9. Overall, what is your biggest fear for direct care workers during the coronavirus crisis?

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* 10. Overall, what would help direct care workers the most right now?

Question Title

* 11. Is there anything else that we should know about supporting direct care workers during the coronavirus crisis?

* 1. What are your biggest concerns about the direct care workforce right now? (check all that apply)

I am worried that...

* 3. What are direct care workers’ biggest fears right now, in your opinion? (check all that apply)

I think direct care workers are worried that…

* 5. How are long-term care employers supporting direct care workers during this crisis? (check all that apply)

Long-term care employers are supporting workers by...