Hoosier home health aides call on legislature for quality care, jobs

SEIU Healthcare Indiana and allies testify in Summer Study Committee

On Aug. 20th, SEIU Healthcare Indiana home care aides— joined by our allies in the senior and disability rights communities— called on our representatives in the Health Finance Committee to take action to strengthen Indiana’s home care system and make home care reform a priority for the Indiana legislative Summer Study Committee.

SEIU Healthcare members and allies released a study showing how Indiana must strengthen the state’s long-term care system to prepare for growing need as the Baby Boomer generation ages. Already, Indiana’s long-term care system is compromised by consumers not being able to find or keep qualified home care workers—especially in rural areas. Our recommendations to improve Hoosier home care include:

• Investing in wages, benefits and travel reimbursements for home care workers,
• Expanding consumer-driven home care,
• Ensuring accountability and transparency among home care agencies receiving state funds.

Wayne Morgan, a home health aide and CNA from Gary, testified at the hearing, which was packed with SEIU Healthcare Indiana members. “Consumers don’t deserve a revolving door of home care aides, and direct-frontline caregivers need to be able to take care of their own families without being forced to leave a job they love. The state of Indiana cannot continue with the status quo,” he said.

Home health aides, consumers and advocates are keeping the pressure on our Indiana elected officials to make strengthening the Indiana home care system a top priority in the upcoming legislative session.

Read the press release

Download the report