CalGrows Takes on Caregiver Shortage with Free Training and Incentive Payments

July 30, 2024

More than 13,000 caregivers have enhanced or expanded their skills and confidence with CalGrows courses; Millions of dollars in incentives are available through August 30

Sacramento – California faces a looming shortage of caregivers for older adults and adults with disabilities over the next five to 10 years. The California Department of Aging (CDA) has committed to helping close the gap through the CalGrows direct care workforce training and career development program. CalGrows encourages, supports, and incentivizes home and community-based services (HCBS) caregivers. To date, more than 13,000 caregivers across the state have participated in more than 89,000 training courses, and qualified applicants have collected over $7 million in incentive payments.

"CalGrows has been instrumental in addressing the impending shortage of caregivers in California. Thousands of enrollees across the state—many of them women and people of color—have been able to take free training courses and earn financial incentives of up to $6,000 while building their skills," notes CDA Director Susan DeMarois. "CalGrows offers a tremendous opportunity for paid direct care workers, as well as unpaid family and friend caregivers, to learn new skills and improve existing skills to deliver the best possible care to older adults and adults with disabilities. I encourage all California caregivers to take advantage of this free training before the CalGrows program ends on September 30, 2024."

WHAT CAREGIVERS ARE SAYING: Jeannie Smith of NAPA Valley Support Services said of her experience with the CalGrows program, "We can apply [what we learn] in our everyday work life immediately. [People] like feeling empowered by being able to take what they learned and immediately use it in their workplace."

"Being a caregiver and direct care worker is a very hard job. Having the opportunity not just to take these free courses but also getting incentive pay is a huge win to them," said Sean Hidalgo, who manages CalGrows courses at Sacramento’s ACC Senior Services.

ACC driver Keng Thor, who has taken CalGrows courses, said, "The knowledge I received from CalGrows was put to use and made me more confident in being able to meet and interact with my clients."

CalGrows training has empowered California caregivers with improved skills and more confidence when working with older adults and adults with disabilities. Hear from caregivers like Smith who have grown their skillset to support loved ones and/or their career in these video clips: CalGrows Participant Videos.

BIGGER PICTURE: California’s aging population is growing quickly. By 2030, 25% of the state’s population will be over age 60, outnumbering younger generations for the first time. This population shift increases the need for skilled caregivers as more Californians face age-related conditions like Alzheimer's and limited mobility. CalGrows is a critical step toward increasing California’s workforce of high-quality caregivers.

ABOUT THE FREE CAREGIVER TRAININGS: CalGrows provides a foundation for increased skills, job satisfaction, retention, and career development opportunities for direct care workers. Those include paid professional caregivers as well as family and friends who step into caregiver roles and want to better care for and communicate with patients and loved ones.

More than 600 free, virtual and in-person courses are available on Calgrows.org. The CalGrows website course catalog is searchable by topic, location, and language. Courses are offered in nine languages and designed to address the needs of California's diverse population. Among the many topics:

• Dementia care
• Patient-centered communication
• Mobility assistance techniques
• Healthcare professional self-care
• Managing chronic disease
• Care team collaboration

Paid caregivers who are eligible for up to $6,000 in incentive payments must submit an Incentive Claim by August 31, 2024. CalGrows courses will be available online through September 30, but all Incentive Claims must be submitted by August 30.

ABOUT THE CALGROWS PROGRAM: CalGrows is a California Department of Aging (CDA) program designed to support caregivers of older adults and people with disabilities by improving their skills through training courses. More than 70 organizations across California received funding through the CalGrows Innovation Fund to develop and scale innovative training courses and offer incentives to paid direct care workers. Both paid direct care workers and unpaid family and friend caregivers can take courses.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF AGING: Under the umbrella of the California Health & Human Services Agency, the California Department of Aging (CDA) administers programs that serve older adults, adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and residents in long-term care facilities throughout the state. To learn more, visit aging.ca.gov.