How New York can end the home care crisis

New York is facing a crisis — one that is putting older adults and disabled people in danger. Right now, our state is experiencing the worst shortage of home care workers in the entire nation. In Washington, as we work to pass Build Back Better to fund critical sectors like home care,Sen. Joe Manchin and his Republican allies are putting their corporate donors first and blocking progress for working people. But here in New York, our elected leaders have an opportunity to show the nation what compassionate leadership looks like by ending the home care crisis and building a care economy that supports older adults, disabled people, and home care workers.

For the past decade, then-Gov. Cuomo pursued an economic development strategy that often put corporations first — and working people last. But Gov. Hochul has already demonstrated in multiple ways that she is a more compassionate and caring leader than her predecessor. Now, with the fate of Build Back Better in doubt, she has an opportunity to show the nation what genuine relief and recovery look like by making New York a leader in the care economy. And home care workers, older adults, and people with disabilities need this relief now more than ever.

Anyone who has seen a home care worker look after a family member knows that this is tireless, back-breaking work. Home care workers lift their clients in and out of bed, help them eat and get dressed, and support them around the house and in the bathroom.

During COVID-19, the essential role that home care workers played became even clearer. Across the state, home care workers traveled during a deadly pandemic to ensure their clients could comfortably remain at home, safe from the virus, and out of nursing homes.

It’s no surprise that this low-wage, high-intensity work is predominantly carried out by women of color — who all too often take on the labor of caring for our community without adequate compensation. In New York, 91% of home care workers are women and 77% are people of color. And with such low wages, 57% of home care workers rely on public assistance like food assistance and Medicaid.

Since their wages are so low, home care workers are understandably leaving in droves to search for better pay elsewhere — leaving older adults and disabled people without the support they desperately need. New York currently faces the worst home care workforce shortage of all 50 states: 25% of home care patients across the state recently reported they’re unable to find home care workers.

In my district, the crisis is especially clear: in Westchester alone, 20% of home care patients are unable to find home care workers. In the Bronx, we have the most elderly poverty of all five boroughs — folks who can’t afford expensive, private alternatives or to supplement wages out of pocket.

And the Bronx has the most people living with disabilities of all five boroughs — and these New Yorkers deserve consistent home care workers.

Meanwhile, the demand for home care is only growing as our population ages. Between 2021 and 2040, New York is projected to grow by 3% — but the 65-andover population will grow by 25%, and the number of adults over age 85 will grow by 75%. And with older adults increasingly weary of entering nursing homes during COVID-19, more families are opting for at-home care.

In Washington, I am working with my congressional colleagues to bring billions in funding back home through Build Back Better — but corporate donors and special interests are working overtime to gut funding for a real recovery. Thankfully in Albany, our elected officials seem more willing to put working people first — by supporting the Fair Pay for Home Care Act, which would require home care workers to make $22.50 an hour. The Fair Pay for Home Care Act would wipe out the home care shortage in the next five years — and pay for itself by moving workers off of social assistance and through new tax revenue. So it’s no surprise the Act has bipartisan support in both the state Senate and Assembly.

Now, it’s time for Hochul to show that here in New York, we’ve entered a new era where we put working people ahead of corporate interests. New York has the chance to become a national leader in building an economy that cares for its people.

And with a growing demand for home care, a workforce fleeing the sector, and an opportunity to save the state money while creating new jobs, this is a solution all New Yorkers can get behind. We can move from the state with the worst home care shortage in America to the state that is showing our nation what a true care economy looks like.