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The program, established in 1979, assists older adults who might
otherwise need nursing home care to remain in their homes by
providing non-medical in-home and community-based services.
Legislation has been introduced in House Bill 1330 that would
require each in-home service provider to spend a minimum of 80%
of total payments the provider receives for services on total
compensation for direct service workers who furnish those
services. The measure would create a minimum wage of at least
$20 an hour for in-home workers.
“By providing good-paying union jobs, we can build a workforce
our seniors need to age with their security and dignity in their
own home in their communities,” Jenny Smith, an in-home health
care worker from Champaign County, said during a news conference
Tuesday.
Those eligible for the program must be 60 years or older, either
U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens, and have non-exempt
assets of $17,500 or less.
State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, D-Arlington Heights, the sponsor of
the legislation, said every time a care worker leaves the
industry because of low wages, the crisis gets more dangerous
for seniors.
“The solution is investing in care workers to stabilize the care
workforce,” said Canty. “We need to invest in care by raising
wages for home care workers.”
As for funding the raises, Erica Bland, executive director of
SEIU HealthCare, said care work makes all other work possible,
so it is time for big companies to step up.
“Major corporations rely on the care economy to ensure that
their workers show up for work everyday,” said Bland. “They
can’t have a free ride. They need to pay their fair share. When
corporations and the wealthiest pay their fair share, we can all
succeed.”
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