Elders in need; Nursing homes short of personnel.

Byline: Martin Luttrell

WORCESTER - Megan A. Galipeau plans on becoming a licensed practical nurse, but is undecided as to what area of nursing care she will specialize in.

The Millville resident works as a certified nursing assistant at Beaumont Nursing Home in Northbridge, and with the population of those needing long-term care growing, she will likely have job security and opportunities for advancement if she continues working with elderly patients, according to information presented yesterday at the Annual Long Term Care Nursing Day, held at the DCU Convention Center.

Senior citizens 85 and older make up the fastest-growing group of Americans, while those 65 and older will increase by 15 million between 2010 and 2020, said Anna Treinkman, a registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner at the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center in Chicago, who was the program's keynote speaker.

Yesterday's event, to promote nursing careers in long-term care, was sponsored by the Massachusetts Extended Care Federation, the state's largest elder care provider association. Nursing students also attended educational workshops and a job fair with representatives from more than 220 facilities including nursing homes and long-term care facilities around the state.

Ms. Treinkman, past president of the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners, said there is a shortage of long-term care nurses, with approximately 96,000 LPNs, registered nurses and certified nursing assistants needed to fill vacant positions at nursing homes in the U.S.

She said that between 2000 and 2010 there is a projected 45 percent increase in demand for long-term care workers - or 800,000 new jobs. And by 2020 the population of those 65 and over will outnumber the population of caregivers, she said to the audience of 1,000 nursing students from 19 schools across the state.

"Aging baby boomers equals job security," she said, eliciting a few chuckles from the audience. "We need the best and brightest caring for our aging patients."

She said that the nursing profession has been glamorized by television shows depicting fast-paced emergency rooms. But nurses in long-term facilities have greater autonomy and room for decision making than they have in acute care hospitals, she said. And unlike acute care patients, long-term patients are more directly affected by the care and relationships they have with the nursing staff, particularly those with forms of dementia, Ms. Treinkman said.

"There is a shortage of care for people, especially with dementia," she said, adding that 50 percent of the population over the age of 85 has Alzheimer's disease, and 50 percent of nursing home patients suffer from some form of dementia.

Long-term care is usually associated with nursing homes, but nurses can get jobs in long-term care at assisted living facilities, residential group homes, adult day care, hospice and rehabilitation facilities, she said.

"A lot of people think nursing homes are sad places," Ms. Treinkman said. "They aren't sad. Nurses are the knowledgeable people at nursing homes. Doctors aren't around that much. Nurses recognize subtle changes in their patients, and know when a doctor is needed.

"It really is fun to do this."

Ms. Galipeau, who graduated from Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School last spring, is taking a 10-month LPN program at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlboro. She said she knew as a child that nursing was in her future.

"Growing up, I was in and out of hospitals for medical conditions," she said. "My experiences with the nurses were pretty good, mostly. This is something I can do to give back.

"I know how I want to treat my patients."

She was surprised to learn how many nursing jobs there are in the state, and said she is currently torn between pediatrics and long-term care.

"I love my Alzheimer's patients," she said with a smile.

Christine Melko of Gardner, in her first year of the LPN program at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, said she always had a desire to help people.

"I was originally going to go into dental hygiene, but when I walked into that, I didn't think it would be a very satisfying and rewarding job," she said. "I got into the nursing program and started my clinical (training) and interacting with patients.

"It's the most rewarding feeling I could ever have, to be able to help people at their time of need. ... In long-term care you get to know them, get to know their personalities. You know what they enjoy and how you can make their life a better life."

Shahnaz P. Gravel of Templeton, a friend of Ms. Melko who is also in the Mount Wachusett LPN program, said she would like to eventually open a nursing home with her friend.

"I think nursing is in my blood, because 20 people in my family are in nursing," she said. "I am inspired by them. I am a CNA (certified nursing assistant) now, but in the LPN program.

"This program today is inspiring for those people in the LPN program right now."

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: (1) Keynote speaker Anna Treinkman at the Long Term Care Nursing Day at the DCU Center. (2) Some of the 1,000 nursing students attending the conference at the DCU Center.

PHOTOG: T&G Staff/PAUL KAPTEYN