The United States has an emerging caregiving crisis. A shortage of health care workers trained to provide quality, long-term care is worsening as the number of those who will need it is about to explode.

Big problems call for bold solutions. Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus is the first university in the nation to create a multidisciplinary caregiving specialist certificate program to train leaders who can address the problem.

"We simply don't have the workers or leaders in place to provide quality care to the large number of individuals who require support to remain in the community," said Richard Birkel, executive director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, which is on the Georgia Southwestern campus. "These individuals include people living with chronic illness and disability of all ages, as well as individuals who require assistance because of aging."

The problem will get worse. The percentage of the U.S. population that will be 65 or older is expected to double in the next 25 years, according to recent census data. By 2030, almost one in every five Americans (72 million people) will be older than 65.

At the same time, there are rising numbers of fragile babies and children with serious health issues; more patients with chronic illnesses and disabilities; and fewer professional and family caregivers to care for them. The number of professional and volunteer caregivers has not kept pace with the demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the demand for long-term health care workers will have increased by 45 percent between 2000 and 2010.

"Everyone is going to be impacted by this crisis, which is why we chose to take a big picture, cross-disciplinary approach," said Leisa Easom, Ph.D., RN, and director of the caregiver specialist certificate program at Georgia Southwestern.

"By integrating disciplines, people should be able to build community systems that will cut across the various needs of aging, disabilities and chronic illness," Birkel said. "All of these groups have common needs, such as training, transportation, funding and respite for caregivers. What is needed are people who can think outside the box to find answers. "

The 18-hour certificate program is open to students from any major. Students take caregiver specialist courses as they work toward their baccalaureate degrees. Students have come to the program from nursing, sociology, biology, education, business and other majors.

To design the course work, Georgia Southwestern faculty worked with the staff from the Rosalynn Carter Institute. Founded by the former first lady — a graduate of Georgia Southwestern — the institute establishes local, state and national partnerships committed to building more effective long-term care systems. It has supported caregivers through research and services for 20 years.

The caregiving specialist certificate program includes courses in psychology, nursing, special education and sociology, and leadership training.

"We want people to be able to look at problems and challenges through a different lens," Easom said.

The goal is to train leaders who will understand the economics, societal challenges, stresses and rewards of long-term care. The program also wants its students to be able to use evidence-based approaches to support both family and professional caregivers.

"As we look at health care reform, long-term care is going to be a big piece of the picture. Our hope is to get some of the best minds of this generation working on this challenge," Birkel said. "We think it's an exciting field, one with many career opportunities and lots of room for creative development. The specialist certificate gives someone an opportunity to lead a generation that is going to need help."

Easom is working on an online version of the program that would be available to students outside the university, and also plans to establish the program as a major at Georgia Southwestern.

"We're just getting started and resources and policies are changing daily," she said. "There's so much to keep up with, but I'm thrilled to be a part of this cutting-edge approach. To cross disciplines is a breakthrough."

CAREGIVING SURVEY

Georgia Southwestern State University is conducting a needs assessment survey to measure interest in a standalone certificate program or master's level training in caregiving. To respond, go to www.rosalynncarter.org/edsurvey.