Caregiver Crisis Needs Community Action

BARRON COUNTY -- Do you know someone who has been impacted by the caregiver crisis? The shortage of caregivers to support people is resulting in unnecessary, prolonged hospitalizations which has both emotional and financial impact. It also puts immense pressure on our local hospitals who are unable to discharge patients due to a lack of skilled and unskilled caregivers at local nursing homes, residential facilities, or in the person’s own home.

• The average caregiver vacancy rate is 24%, up from 15% in 2016
• 42% of providers are facing a caregiver vacancy rate of more than 25%
• There are 20,655 vacant caregiver positions in long-term and residential care facilities, an increase of 4000 since 2018
• 1 in 3 facilities are limiting admissions in the past year due to staffing vacancies while an even higher ratio is indicating they are not getting applicants to fill vacancies

Barron County is no exception. The caregiver shortage impacts everyone in our community, and this crisis presents a significant health and safety issue for those most vulnerable. In fact, the direct caregiver workforce crisis is the most significant risk factor for individuals in need of supports and only anticipated to worsen without thoughtful, community-unified efforts to do better.

Caregiver crisis, meet We Care: a systematic approach of pulling communities together. We Care, Barron County, is a collective group that includes participants from IRIS, the Aging and Disability Resource Center, Inclusa, local assisted living facilities, schools, businesses, and other community members.

Attend our kick-off meeting and join our action-oriented coalition. Come to learn what is happening and share your ideas! We need your help and community collaboration to address this crisis; your involvement will help support Barron County’s families, employers, schools, and most importantly, our entire community. We hope to see you there!

• When: Wednesday, August 17, 2022
• Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.
• Where: Attend in person or virtually on ZOOM. No registration required.
  • Mosaic Technologies, Community Rm, 401 S 1st Street Cameron, Use Training Center Entrance.

To join virtually, please email alisa.lammers@co.barron.wi.us for the ZOOM link. Questions: Call Alisa Lammers at the Aging and Disability Resource Center at (715) 537-6225

We Care, Barron County’s mission:

Bring awareness and educate vital stakeholders on the crisis each county is facing and recruit and retain caregivers in your county.