Nursing home residents rely on certified nursing assistants to help them with tasks they may be unable to do alone, such as getting dressed or bathing. The availability of these workers has a dramatic effect on the quality of life for people who live in nursing homes. Unfortunately for seniors, nursing homes around the US don't have enough certified nursing assistants, according to a Woodruff Medical Training and Testing article.

One organization, Brookdale Senior Living, is confronting the problem with an apprenticeship program that the US Department of Labor has approved.

According to Brookdale Senior Living, it will pilot the program this year at its communities in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Over the course of about a year, apprentices will undergo technical training, participate in on-the-job learning, and receive coaching and support from a mentor on their way to earning a nationally recognized certificate. During the apprenticeship, they will be eligible for up to three pay increases.