Working Together for Quality Care
As the demand for in-home care rises, our country faces a shortage of trained, qualified workers to care for people with disabilities and seniors in the coming years. By 2030, the US will need an estimated 5 million direct care workers to match the growth in the senior population alone.
SEIU's Quality Care Track Record
>> Fully funding Indiana CHOICE program & winning language to keep money allocated for home care in the program
>> Securing comprehensive health coverage for WA & CA caregivers to reduce turnover and stabilize workforce
>> Uniting nearly 500,000 home care workers to win training opportunities, wage increases & a strong voice for their consumers
>> Establishing Quality Care Councils in several states to unite consumer, advocate & worker stakeholders in the long term care decision- making process
The long-term care industry suffers from worker turnover from 40-60% nationally. Workers’ low wages, lack of benefits and challenging working conditions make it harder to attract new caregivers to the field and lower retention, as many workers leave home care for higher-paying jobs.
If this trend continues, we will surely compromise consumers’ safety, ability to live independently and quality of life.
Low pay & poor benefits don't just drive dedicated caregivers
out of the system. They also make a difference in the quality of care
we receive. If home care workers were paid a decent wage &
provided with decent benefits, it could be a lifelong profession for
dedicated people.
Katrinka Gentile
Chairwoman, ADAPT of the Greater Northwest
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mar 10, 2001
Working Together
SEIU—with the strength of more than one million healthcare workers nationwide—is uniting with home care consumers, advocates, businesses, and community and public leaders for quality, community-based care.
We’re working together to build a stable, professional long-term care workforce—to reduce turnover and ensure that all people with disabilities and seniors will be able to receive quality, community-based care now and in the future.
Interested in working together to ensure quality, community-based long term care for Kansans? Consumers, advocates & caregivers should contact us.
Learn about SEIU Local 880's long-term care policy initiatives in Illinois