D.C. roundtable spotlights long‑term care workforce shortfalls and push to implement single CNA credential

Councilmember Christina Henderson, chair of the Committee on Health, and Councilmember Anita Bonds, chair of the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, hosted a joint roundtable March 26 to examine strategies for expanding Washington, D.C.'s long‑term care workforce, which witnesses said is shrinking even as the city ages.

The discussion focused on worker shortages, the upcoming transition to a single certified nurse aide credential, testing capacity, pipeline programs and the need for cross‑agency coordination to retain and recruit direct care workers.

Why this matters: Witnesses and agency officials said a weak pipeline, reduced training capacity and licensing bottlenecks are combining with low pay and burnout to hollow out a workforce that supports older adults and people with disabilities. Council staff cited projections that the District’s older population will grow substantially by 2030, raising demand for in‑home and facility‑based care.

Councilmember Henderson opened the roundtable with workforce figures she cited from DC Health and the council’s budget office, saying nearly 4,000 CNAs and HHAs did not renew credentials between 2020 and 2024 and that the number of certified home health aides and certified nurse aides has declined substantially. "Currently, there are about 11,466 CNAs and HHAs certified to work in the…