Trauma Study Reveals 73% of Senior Care Workforce at Intermediate to High Risk of Toxic Stress

KARE, the leading digital labor marketplace for post-acute and senior care, in collaboration with the National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA), has released the first of a three-part groundbreaking study, "KARE's Trauma and Resilience Report." This report examines the impact of trauma on frontline senior and post-acute care staff, defined by KARE as the "careforce."

The study finds that 39% of careforce workers are at intermediate risk of toxic stress, and an additional 34% are at high risk. This high-risk group represents a rate that is double that of the general population (17%). These findings emerge at a critical moment for the senior living and post-acute care community, which is still grappling with significant healthcare staffing shortages compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a time when many nurses and other post-acute professionals are leaving the field due to burnout, and with escalating overtime expenses placing strain on budgetary limits, this report serves as both an alarming indicator and a source of critical insights. It aims to improve the well-being of healthcare workers and enhance the quality of care delivered to vulnerable populations through targeted interventions informed by the study's findings.

The study was conducted in January 2024 and includes 1,142 individuals from the careforce, comprising licensed healthcare professionals in long-term care. The results of the study will be presented as part of a three-part series that delves into the impact of different types of trauma on frontline careforce staff. The first part of KARE's Trauma and Resilience Report examines Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their influence on today's careforce. Part Two to be released in Q2 2024 will explore the role of mental health and personal well-being in post-acute and senior care workplaces, with Part Three to investigate how social determinants of health shape the future of caregiving.

Key findings from Part One of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Today's Careforce include:

• 73% of the careforce faces intermediate to high levels of toxic stress.
• 34% of the careforce are at high risk of toxic stress (ACEs score of 4 or more), which is double that of the 17% in the general population.
• RNs had the highest average ACEs score at 3.2 compared to the 2.70 average for the overall careforce.
• The intersection of adverse childhood experiences and the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened rates of burnout and turnover among frontline staff, exacerbating the healthcare labor shortage crisis.

"The Bureau of Labor Statistics consistently ranks nursing and healthcare among the most stressful professions," notes Katie Rhone, KARE's SVP of HERO and Employee Experience. "That's why KARE's study tackles frontline workers' trauma?an absent but crucial industry conversation. With 34% experiencing high toxic stress, the study emphasizes the urgent need to evaluate mental health benefits for our careforce."

"KARE's trauma survey serves not merely as data but as a reflection of the resilience and shared experiences of the careforce," adds trauma-informed care expert and founder of Radical Sabbatical, Jean Hartnett, MHSA, NHA, CDP, YTT, CNA.

KARE's Trauma and Resilience Report is a valuable resource, providing insights to better comprehend the careforce and approach their needs with empathy and support. By shedding light on the challenges caregivers face, it highlights a potential need for supportive benefit structures that acknowledge and address their unique mental health requirements.

Learn more about KARE's Trauma and Resilience Report here.

About KARE

KARE is the leading digital labor marketplace for post-acute and senior care, connecting caregivers, nurses, and hospitality staff with senior care communities and nursing homes. KARE empowers caregiving Heroes to quickly fill open shifts, giving them the flexibility to choose where and when they work. Based in Houston, Texas, KARE is revolutionizing the industry with its innovative approach to staffing solutions.

For more information, visit https://www.doyoukare.com/.