As New York's aging population grows and nursing homes prove dangerous for seniors during coronavirus, home care work is in high demand. But seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to find home care workers, because the job pays under $12 an hour across most of New York. Care work is essential for elders and New Yorkers with disabilities to live and age safely and with dignity in their homes and communities. Yet because of the low pay, home care workers are leaving the workforce in droves right when we need them most — and forcing many seniors to live in dangerous nursing homes instead of receiving care at home.
As New York faces an economic recession and a global pandemic, we need to create new jobs and stave off widespread unemployment. If the state starts paying home care workers a living wage, these jobs will be filled immediately because of the high demand. Home care workers are also primarily women of color and immigrants — two communities that are historically underpaid and deserve full wages and benefits.
New York State can protect seniors, create jobs for New Yorkers and rebuild our economy by paying home care workers a just wage.
Care work is in high demand — but seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to find home care workers.
Care workers have never been more necessary: New York’s aging population is growing rapidly, our nursing homes are overwhelmed, and immunocompromised New Yorkers will be at home until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available. But care workers are underpaid for the critical work they provide — meaning seniors and people with disabilities struggle to find the care they need. For decades, our state has refused to invest in these jobs, paying workers a minimum wage and offering no benefits.
We are care workers, seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities who know that care work is essential.
Home care allows seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities to live and age in their communities with dignity, rather than residing in nursing homes and group homes. Home care costs less than assisted living, and is safer than our state’s underregulated nursing homes. And seniors and people with disabilities prefer home care — they can live full lives with an aide to help with tasks like getting out of bed or buying groceries. Every time disaster strikes, home care workers are on the frontlines — providing essential services to seniors during coronavirus, supporting people with disabilities during the California wildfires, even dying with their clients during Hurricane Sandy.
But New York’s Governor Cuomo is forcing care workers out of their jobs — right when our elderly population is ballooning.
As we face an economic recession and a global pandemic, New York needs to create new jobs and stave off widespread unemployment. And New York’s fast-aging population means home care workers will find jobs quickly. Yet New York keeps investing in corporations like Amazon and Tesla that fail to create jobs, while cutting funding for home care — the single fastest growing sector in our state’s economy.
New York State consistently undervalues the work that women, people of color, and immigrants put into our economy — and care work is no different. Home care workers are primarily women of color and immigrants who work hard to keep New Yorkers alive and deliver vital health care services — yet the Governor will not invest in this essential and growing sector.
When it comes time to choose between investing in care versus maximizing corporate profit, politicians across the board have always chosen profit. Now thousands of people are dying afraid and alone during coronavirus because of the care worker shortage.
New York State can jumpstart our economy and ensure the health and safety of seniors and people with disabilities by investing in care workers.
New York State’s leaders have a choice: Create thousands of good-paying home care jobs and provide safe, quality care for vulnerable New Yorkers — or continue a failed job development strategy of tax breaks and subsidies for private corporations.
We can create a future where every New Yorker has the care they need to live full, healthy lives — and where care workers are highly valued and well-paid.
Care work can be a dignified and well-paying job for women of color and immigrants across New York. Care work can keep aging New Yorkers and people with disabilities safe and healthy in their homes. And care work can create hundreds of thousands of jobs in a fast-growing sector of New York’s economy.
New York must start putting care work over corporate profit. It’s time for the state to stop cutting funding for care workers, begin paying care workers a living wage and benefits, and invest deeply in care jobs to jump-start our economy.