Home care advocates: “This message needs to be carried to the state capitol.”

In Washington, PA, on Friday, Independence Riders and advocates held a rally outside the office of the Tri County Patriots for Independent Living (TRIPIL), an organization that advocates for the civil rights and freedom of people with disabilities. At the event, TRIPIL Chief Executive Officer Kathleen Kleinmann spoke about raising awareness of the need for quality home care in Pennsylvania:

“We support the efforts of consumer employers to advocate for better wages and benefits for their attendants. As home care attendants and consumers travel across the state on the Independence Ride, we hope others will get on the bandwagon to support them. This message needs to be carried to the state capitol.”

Carrying their message is exactly what the dozens of in-home caregivers, consumers, and advocates who’ve have embarked on this a month-long tour of the state intend to keep doing. Independence Riders signed a Declaration of Independence which included a pledge to rebalance the health care system in Pennsylvania “from one centered on nursing homes to one centered on people’s homes,” and developing a “qualified, retainable workforce to support community living.”

Independence riders have been on the road for two weeks, making stops in Harrisburg, Erie, New Castle and Washington so far on their way to the Capitol. Watch video from last Friday’s event in Erie below:

A majority of Pennsylvanians want the choice to receive care in their homes and communities, instead of nursing homes or institutions. Unfortunately, 82 percent of the money spent on long term care goes to nursing homes, while only 18 percent is spent on home care.

Home care is cost-effective. It costs the Commonwealth about one-third as much to provide home care services as it does to provide care in a traditional nursing home facility. Home care allows consumers to maintain a measure of independence and dignity that institutional care does not afford. Independence Ride supporters are committed to creating a system that best serves the needs of all Pennsylvanians by emphasizing quality home care.