Hochul Failed to Address State Home Care Shortage
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
In her State of the State, Gov. Hochul excluded any commitment to end New York’s home care shortage by paying workers a fair wage – and ensured the shortage only worsens in the years to come. Older adults and disabled people will continue to sleep in their wheelchairs, miss meals and be forced into nursing homes because the governor refuses to end New York’s home care shortage.
Last year’s budget included small raises for home care workers; however, that increase came nowhere close to the full amount needed to end the shortage. The state is also letting for-profit insurance companies steal millions in funding intended for the home care sector – and the governor failed to outline any plan to stop this wasteful practice.
As New York’s population ages and home care workers continue to leave the sector, we are clear that a significant pay increase – 150 percent of minimum wage – is the only solution to stem the shortage.
Ilana Berger
Co-director, New York Caring Majority
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