Join us in supporting our certified nursing assistants

Our nation’s long-term care industry will soon be grappling with a soaring elder population. In 10 years, the number of people aged 65 and over will reach 77 million, and by 2060, that number will balloon to nearly 95 million. These are individuals who have built our communities and deserve to age with dignity and access to quality care.

Finding qualified and compassionate clinical caregivers for our aging loved ones has become increasingly difficult. America’s nursing shortage is well known. Equally as painful, though less visible, is the lack of certified nursing assistants (CNAs), who are the backbone of our industry, and are often on their first step of the journey to becoming a nurse.

The severe shortage of qualified CNAs and motivated candidates to fill vacant CNA positions make finding the right caregiver a challenge. Placing a loved one in a nursing home is an emotional decision for families, even in the best circumstances. In this difficult situation, having compassionate and skilled caregivers is crucial and significantly impacts the quality of life for both the resident and their family.

Centers Health Care, under my leadership, has developed an innovative pathway for aspiring CNAs. Clinicians comprise roughly 85% of our employees, and having the right people in place is critical. To create a clear clinical pathway forward, we offer a free-of-charge CNA course at our Schenectady Center, located in Schenectady, New York, where students gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience to ensure career readiness. This is one of many learning offerings available to our thousands of caregivers. This program also compensates current employees for their regular wages while they attend the course. It is important for us to remove financial barriers so that becoming a CNA is accessible to everyone.

Our commitment to accessible CNA training extends beyond our Schenectady Center. We partner with New York’s Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) centers across the state to ensure aspiring CNAs have local training options. For those who choose a BOCES program, we offer reimbursement to further reduce financial hurdles.

This year, we’ll graduate hundreds of new CNAs from our own program, and another cohort from BOCES programs. In 2024 alone, we have already graduated more than 100 CNAs, and many of those graduates have stayed within the Centers Health Care system. Should our CNAs desire LPN or RN degrees, we support them even further, wholeheartedly. For those who wish to advance into nursing leadership, we have a program for that too. In fact, at any given time, many within our workforce are receiving training to expand their skills towards a higher certification and move up in our organization.

By providing comprehensive training and cultivating a supportive workplace culture, we empower our CNAs to excel. Many of our staff express deep satisfaction in their ability to positively impact residents' lives.

Jenifer Bailey, a rehab CNA with more than 20 years of service at our Beth Abraham facility in the Bronx, is a testament to the excellence of our CNAs. Starting as a volunteer, she's grown into a patient favorite and a mentor to new CNAs, sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience.

Jenifer loves the work she does, and every day her goal is to please everyone who walks through our doors. It gives her joy to go above and beyond to ensure their needs are met.

We are incredibly proud to be adding to this specialized and critical workforce. The amazing trainers and professionals making it happen are supporting such an important element of the success of the future of care in our nation: by helping to train the next generation of our country’s elder and long-term caregivers.

With a clinical background as an EMT, I understand the immense value of caregivers. Their tireless efforts deserve recognition. Skilled – and caring – caregivers are essential to a healthy society, and it’s time they are elevated. We’re dedicated to the long-term care community, and to ensuring we can provide excellent care for our elders well into the future. Please join us in this mission.

Kenny Rozenberg has never strayed far from his passion for providing health care to those most in need. A certified paramedic, he volunteers as a first responder during off-hours. At Centers Health Care’s facilities, he collaborates daily with administrators, nursing directors, rehabilitation specialists, and other caregivers to ensure exceptional care.

Centers Health Care, one of the most complete post-acute health care organizations and a leader in post-acute care in the northeast, is a premier network of skilled nursing, rehabilitation and senior care services with 45 locations throughout New York State, New York City and Southern New Jersey.

www.centershealthcare.com