Joseph Pepe has lived with a progressive muscle disease since childhood, but has always been independent and active in his Pennsylvania community. To maintain that independence, Pepe requires in-home care. “My problems are multifaceted,” says Pepe. “I really need assistance with everything I do.”
For the last six years, that assistance has come from home care attendant Brenda McFadden. Her hard work helps enable Pepe to live at home, make choices about his care, and maintain his independence.
However, like most home care workers, McFadden has no health insurance. “To go without health care insurance — that’s not fair to us or our consumers,” says McFadden. “If I’m sick, I can’t care for Joe. He depends on me to stay healthy because there’s no alternative if I get sick.”
The Current State of Home Care in PA
Home care attendants in Pennsylvania are paid an average of $9.10 an hour with no benefits. As a result, turnover rates among attendants can be as high as 100%, and there is a statewide shortage of 10,000 workers that will grow dramatically as the aging population expands.
By 2020, almost 20 percent of Pennsylvanians will be over 65, and the over-85 population will have increased by 52 percent. While over 90 percent of Pennsylvanians have said that they want long term care in their own homes and communities, according to a recent survey from the state’s Office on Long-Term Living, over 80 percent of Pennsylvania’s long term care dollars are spent in nursing homes.
Pennsylvania’s seniors aren’t the only ones at risk to lose their independence. People with disabilities in the state have long fought to maintain their independence and stay at home, in their communities, with quality home care. “Our home care crisis is real,” says Kathleen Kleinman, CEO of Tri-County Patriots for Independent Living. “We have the right to direct our own care and come up with our own solutions. We are people, not patients. We need a new approach to building the reliable and retainable workforce we need.”
Fighting Together for the Consumer Workforce Council
By joining together for the first time in United Home Care Workers of Pennsylvania, thousands of workers across the state are taking a stand for the needs of home care attendants and consumers. By creating a stable, retainable workforce providing quality care in the manner consumers choose, United Home Care Workers of Pennsylvania are ensuring a better future for healthcare in Pennsylvania.
What You Can Do to Help Home Care Workers’ Voices Be Heard
As home care attendants continue to work together to gain a stronger voice, we hope others will get on the bandwagon to support them. To show your solidarity and support online, please