Care for the Caregivers
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-04-10 12:14:10.869586-04:00
More than 400 AARP members from around the state rallied at the state capitol this March to urge lawmakers to increase wages, provide better benefits and raise staff levels in Minnesota's nursing homes, assisted living facilities and home care services.
"Our long-term care system is in a funding crisis. Facilities are short-staffed, and workers are underpaid," said AARP State President Hubert H. "Skip "Humphrey, III. "Minnesotans want lawmakers to make funding for the care of our most vulnerable elders a high priority this session."
AARP is urging passage of legislation to provide funding for long-term care and to better recognize the role of the family caregiver.
Long-term Care Funding (HF 721)
AARP is urging passage of a 5 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for long-term care workers for each year of the 2-year budget, with 75 percent of the funding going directly to wages. The bill also funds vital training programs for long-term care staff, helps facilities that care for residents with Alzheimer's and other behavioral challenges, and provides additional funding to stop high staff turnover in individual facilities. The bill also opens up the Minnesota Care health insurance program to long-term care workers, to help caregivers obtain affordable health care coverage.
Family Caregivers Support
AARP is also urging lawmakers to better recognize unpaid family members who provide 80 to 90 percent of the long-term care in our state. AARP wants legislators to allow family members to use earned sick time to take time off of work to care for their loved ones; and to pass a $200 per month tax credit to family caregivers to recognize the significant sacrifice they make to be able to care for our elders.
"We urge our leaders to make a commitment to better recognize the tremendous care given by the caregivers of our state, whether they are in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or right in our own homes," said Humphrey. "These are the people who will care for all of us someday, and they deserve our care and support."
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