A new bill is being proposed to boost the home health aide industry as New York state still faces a significant shortage of frontline workers.
The bill, called the Long-Term Care Workforce Support Act, calls for higher salaries to attract people to the profession. The bill, sponsored by New York State Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, also calls for $100 billion in federal aid and improved labor protections.
Terry Ann Hamilton works three different jobs as a certified nursing assistant. She doesn't have a car, so she relies on taxis to go to work. In her one of her workplaces, she is caring for two of her disabled elderly couples at the same time.
“I feel like they're part of my family,” said Christine Dorsay, 91. “They're so kind. I couldn't go through the day without them.”
Securing long-term care personnel is becoming increasingly difficult. New York state currently faces a shortage of more than 1.2 million home care workers. A home health aide training institute on Long Island trains people to work in the field, but the school's president said it's not easy to meet demand.
“The demand is great. We get calls from agencies every day. Even if we can't answer the phone, they just show up and ask, 'Can you get an entourage?' ” Maria Santiago said.
“Our long-term care workers are essential,” Gillibrand said. “And they should be rewarded and supported for their work.”
Gillibrand believes the shortage is due to low wages being paid for the work. Of the 3.7 million long-term care workers in 2022, half will earn less than $30,000 a year and many will require public assistance.
“The amount of work and the nature of the care we provide to families requires them to work on our paycheck, which can be overwhelming at times,” Hamilton said.
Remi Simone Turner, a student at the school, said, “I think the salary should be higher because it's a very rewarding job and it's not easy.''
Customers argue that workers absolutely should be given higher wages.
“They walk into a house and don't know what kind of patients are going to come in, and they'll do whatever it takes,” Dorsey said. “They're just special people and they need whatever the government gives them.”
