Between 2009 to 2011, the National Council on Aging, or NCOA, administered the 502e Healthcare Workforce Development Project, which successfully trained and secured jobs for mature workers in the healthcare field.

In partnership with Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI), NCOA's Securing Healthcare Jobs for Mature Workers The Public/Private Sector Approach and PHI created a Direct Care Worker training curriculum and improved training and competencies for home care workers in selected counties in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York City.

This pilot project moved away from an outdated “train and pray” model toward a more intentional, industry-driven or “sector strategy” approach for employment of low-income older adults into health careers in high-growth occupations. The result has been to reposition mature workers as viable solutions to workforce development within the healthcare industry.

This issue brief promotes health care jobs as a potential field for mature workers seeking new job opportunities.