WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced legislation to improve the quality and lower the cost of healthcare for older Americans. Senator Casey’s bill would establish demonstrations to design and test models of care that use direct-care workers in advanced roles to treat the 6 in 10 Americans over 65 years in age in need of such care.

 “Direct-care workers are key to providing services that improve the health of older Americans and reduce re-hospitalizations, vastly improving the quality of life for our older citizens and reducing costs and strain on the entire health care industry,” Senator Casey said. “My legislation will help to better train and utilize direct-care workers to lower the cost and improve the quality of health care provided to older Americans.”

 Despite the growing need for management of chronic illnesses, few programs exist to train direct-care workers for the advanced skills needed to support better care and reduce re-hospitalizations.