Examining workforce issues is critical to meet the needs of an older society.

To improve the quality of care for elders, the federal government must support issues that influence caregivers, said Larry Minnix, president and CEO, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, at the Senate Special Committee on Aging hearing “Caring for Our Seniors: How Can We Support the Front Lines?”

“It’s no secret that caregiving is at the heart of quality. As we enter the ‘Era of the Caregivers,’ it is time that legislators take on the challenges -- as well as the opportunities -- we encounter in caring for our country’s most vulnerable citizens,” he said.

In a statement published April 17, Minnix praised the Special Committee on Aging for examining the workforce issues that the nation must address to meet the needs of an aging society. He also stressed that improving quality in aging services means “investing in workforce education and development programs, providing incentives for those who pursue careers in geriatrics, offering more competitive wages and benefits to direct caregivers, and encouraging technology applications in caregiving,” the release said.