WEST CHESTER, PA — Barclay Friends has found a successful, sustainable way to recruit and retain Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in its West Chester, Pennsylvania community. The community, which offers personal care, memory care, skilled nursing, post-acute rehab and residential living relies on the critical work of CNAs to deliver the highest quality resident care.
The secret to their success is offering paid training opportunities. For many people interested in pursuing a CNA training and certification process, the barrier of out-of-pocket costs and the time needed to devote to training is a large deterrent.
Mariesly Febles, Education Coordinator at Barclay Friends, shares, “Most people can’t commit to three weeks unpaid from their job. It could devastate the finances of the family. By providing a paid opportunity to train as a CNA, we empower them to take this next step and ultimately provide a better income for their family.”
Since launching the paid training model in October 2022, the community has had 13 participants. Nine of these participants passed their exam and became certified CNAs, and six of these individuals remain employed at Barclay Friends. An additional group of participants will begin in October.
These numbers are impressive, especially in the context of the 2023 State of Pennsylvania Nursing Facilities Survey released earlier this year. Statewide, Pennsylvania has about 680 skilled nursing homes, and 57% of those homes have beds that are unused because of a lack of caregivers. Additionally, 81% are using agency-employee staff to fill open positions. This crisis points to systemic issues due to underfunding, and workforce perception. Providers across the state are seeking creative solutions.
CNAs provide an essential role in organizations supporting older adults. Their roles are largely focused on activities of daily living (ADLs), including showering, transferring residents from one place to another, feeding assistance, and so much more. This direct care is critical for residents who require this hands-on support. Other duties of a CNA include building relationships with residents, monitoring and reporting, and more.
One recent graduate shared how participating in the training program showed her that Barclay Friends was committed to providing opportunities for growth. “Once they chose to offer the CNA classes, I was extended the opportunity, and given the flexibility to organize my workload to accommodate the timeline.” She also shared the relevancy and helpfulness of the materials provided, “It was incredibly helpful to have on-site experience and guidance from the employees who were more than happy to have us assist them throughout the learning process.”
The three-week paid program was made possible by Kendal Charitable Funds, and its recent round of affiliate grants. Kendal Charitable Funds was incorporated in 1989 to support the charitable goals and aspirations of the Kendal Corporation, its system of affiliates and the wider world of aging services.
For more information about Barclay Friends, visit https://bf.kendal.org/community-life/overview/.
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