WEST DES MOINES — Fifty-two Iowans who want to advance their health care education to work in long-term care received over $100,000 in scholarships from the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA) Foundation this week.
Scholarships recipients include current long-term care employees, as well as high school students and veterans wanting to join the health care profession. Scholarships provide for the cost of a variety of health care and leadership programs to equip health care workers with the skills they need to work in long-term care.
“The IHCA Foundation is committed to helping develop experienced professionals to meet Iowa’s growing need for long-term care,” said Lori Ristau, executive director of the IHCA Foundation. “It is inspiring to see the outpouring of interest in working in long-term care among the scholarship applicants. This year’s scholarship recipients are to be commended for their dedication and commitment to pursuing such a noble profession of helping others.”
The IHCA Foundation has a long history of offering scholarships to advance the skills needed for those interested in working in the long-term care profession. This year, the IHCA Foundation added two new scholarships, with one for directors of nursing (DONs) working in long-term care and the other for current long-term care employees interested in growing their leadership skills.
More than 150 applications were received for this year’s scholarships. Scholarship applications were evaluated by the IHCA Foundation Board of Directors based upon the applicant’s experience, recommendations and future educational and career goals in long-term care. This year’s IHCA Foundation scholarship winners include Laura Knudtson with the Solon Retirement Village who received an IHCA Member Employee Scholarship. This $1,500 scholarship is for IHCA member organization employees pursuing a nursing, health care administration or physical or occupational therapy training program and is made possible by Iowa Society of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, IHCA Districts and Iowa Council of Nurse Leaders. Thirteen scholarships were awarded.
About the Iowa Health Care Association Foundation
Founded in 1988 by the Iowa Health Care Association (IHCA), the mission of the IHCA Foundation is to foster excellence in long-term care for Iowans by building a stronger workforce. The IHCA Foundation carries out this mission by empowering individuals to reach their career goals in the long-term care profession through scholarships, career education and career access programs. IHCA Foundation programs help support career opportunities available in the long-term care continuum, including nursing facilities, assisted living programs, residential care facilities, senior living communities and home health agencies.