The Legislature must prioritize funding the home-care contract to ensure that vulnerable Washingtonians can receive the quality care they deserve in their homes.
I am a single mother caring for two adult children with developmental disabilities. Parents like me who take care of their adult children full time don’t want to be forced to institutionalize our sons and daughters because low wages don’t keep up with cost-of-living increases.
Without funding for the home-care contract, seniors and people with disabilities could see their caregivers leave the industry and struggle to find a replacement. In severe cases, vulnerable clients could be forced out of their homes because the quality care they need can only be provided at nursing and group homes. This is extremely expensive for both the state and for families.
Supporting the home-care contract would allow tens of thousands of caregivers currently earning low wages to earn $15 an hour and continue to provide quality care to seniors and adults with disabilities in the safety and comfort of their homes.
Families with loved ones with constant direct-care needs don’t want to be torn apart just so wealthy corporations can enjoy tax breaks. Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, needs to support a living wage for caregivers, so families like mine can stay together.
