CNA’s, The Importance of the Front Lines
In the U.S. there are over 700,000 certified nursing assistants providing care and personal assistance to residents in long term care facilities. These are the people who ultimately are responsible for the quality of care throughout the system.
This type of work takes a special kind of person with a special innate form of patience and empathy. For many it is a work they are called to but for many facilities 
the turnover rate of these valuable folks is a real problem. I see numbers as high 80% turnover which put this much higher than other service workers. Close to 10% of these jobs are vacant and all of this compromises the continuity and quality of care.
The current turnover issues and shortage of workers is becoming an even bigger problem as the baby boomers age and we live longer. This part of the system will need to be addressed with compensation and job satisfaction at the top of the list.
Kevin Kirkpatrick is Director of Community Relations at Elmwood Terrace in the Western Suburbs of Chicago
