Lifting Workers Out of Poverty Helps Meet Growing Demand of Seniors

#WeCareLA

Many of California’s vulnerable residents in need of home care services – our low-income seniors and people with disabilities – may soon be left to fend for themselves if the necessary programs and workforce aren’t in place to help tend to their needs.

On average, there are over 1,000 California baby boomers that turn 65 years old every day. As they age, many will become reliant on long-term care services such as In-Home Support Services (IHSS) to be able to live safely at home.

This fact impacts Los Angeles County since we currently have the largest share of California’s IHSS caseload, and with our booming senior population the demand for local in-home care will continue to increase. This means there are more seniors and people with disabilities in need of in-home care in Los Angeles County alone than anywhere else in the state. However, the unfortunate reality is that the number of people in need of in-home care is quickly surpassing the workforce available to provide them the quality care they need and want in the comfort of their own home.

Today, there are over 160,000 consumers being cared for by an L.A. County IHSS provider. In 2020, studies project that caseload will increase to over 200,000. However, with the home care workforce turnover rate averaging over 50% annually, the demand will outpace the supply of caregivers.

Studies show that when you take the turnover rate into account along with increased demand, we’ll need to attract and retain 260,000 new IHSS workers in L.A. County.

One key reason for this staggering turnover rate is many home care workers have to find a different job to make ends meet financially at home. L.A. County IHSS providers only make $9.65 an hour, and according to a recent study, 81% of in-home care providers are living in poverty with 33% relying on public assistance and 18% on CalFresh to feed their families. With the cost of living on the rise and the opportunity to make more money at a different occupation, providers have a hard time continuing the work they love to do because they can’t make ends meet.

To address these poverty wages and help ensure that there will be a workforce in place to meet the growing demand for home care in L.A. County, the members of the SEIU-United Long Term Care Workers Union have launched We Care LA. Focused on the needs of L.A. County IHSS providers and recipients, We Care LA is working to place home care providers on a pathway to earning $15 an hour – a wage that allows them to continue to work as a caregiver while providing for their own families.

To learn more about We Care LA and how you can lend your support to our L.A. County home care providers, visit www.WeCareLA.us. Sign the pledge, spread the word, and help protect our most vulnerable residents and those who provide them care.

-Esmeralda Casarez, Compton, CA

LA County IHSS Provider