Dr. Vera Salter, Direct Care Alliance; Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Yesterday, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) hosted a Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing in Wilkes-Barre, where he announced his intention to introduce the Direct Care Workforce Empowerment Act (House version introduced last week by Rep. Linda Sanchez).
The hearing – Taking care of Mom and Dad: Why We Need a Quality Workforce to Serve Our Older Americans – addressed the growing need for quality medical personnel to take care of a growing aging population. I was invited to deliver testimony, along with Dr. Janet Heinrich, associate administrator for the Bureau of Health Professionals of the Health Resources and Services Administration; Dr. Robert D’Alessandri, president and dean of Commonwealth Medical College; Melissa Lear, registered nurse and president of Beck N Call Home Health and Allen Lear Home Health; and Connie Kreider, certified nursing assistant and co-chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Direct Care Workers Association.
During my testimony, I provided information about the growing demand for direct care services:
“…the number of Americans needing long-term care is expected to double in the coming decades from 13 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050. In Pennsylvania 1,867,500 people were aged over 65 in 2008 comprising 15 percent of the population and nearly one million people were aged over 75. In the Scranton Wilkes-Barre MSA 17.8 percent of the population is aged over 65. Those who need paid long-term services and supports in the future will find that direct care workers will provide the vast majority (over 70) percent of that care.
In 2008 there were 3.2 million nursing assistants, home health aides and personal assistants in the United States and that number is projected to increase to 4.3 million as early as 2018. There are 165,000 direct care workers employed in Pennsylvania and these are among the largest and fastest growing occupations in the Commonwealth projected to increase by 50 percent over the next ten years.” Read the complete testimony here.
Connie Kreider (PA Direct Care Workers Assn) & Dr. Vera Salter (DCA) deliver testimony
Sen. Casey has been a champion for direct care workers in Pennsylvania and across the country. Last year along with 15 other Senators, he submitted a letter to Labor Secretary Hilda Solis asking DOL to address the companionship exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act. At yesterday’s hearing, he said, “The direct care work force provides most of the care for our loved ones. They help every day of the week. It is our responsibility to make sure these jobs are personally rewarding and provide an opportunity for advancement.” Read more about the hearing in the Scranton Times-Tribune.
Connie and Vera,
I’m so glad you were on the Hill providing testimony on behalf of the workforce and for all those in those workers’ care. This is fantastic that Senator Casey will introduce a similar bill in the Senate.
My daughter has worked in direct care of a mentally challenged austistic girl in a group home for over three years and hasn’t had a raise ever ($8/hr). Believe me, she is not just a companion. She’s the best hope that girl has of being understood by and connecting to another human being. Thank you for your work!