A new bill has been proposed in New York to address the severe shortage of home health aides in the state. The Long Term Care Workforce Support Act aims to attract more workers to the field by increasing salaries and providing $100 billion in federal grants. Proposed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, the bill also seeks to improve labor protections for home health workers.
The shortage of long-term care workers in New York has reached critical levels, with over 1.2 million home care workers needed across the state. At a home health aide training institute on Long Island, there is a struggle to keep up with the demand for certified workers in the field. Maria Santiago, the school’s president, mentioned that agencies are constantly reaching out for trained aides to provide care for their clients, reflecting the urgent need for more workers in the industry.
One of the individuals impacted by the shortage is Terry Ann Hamilton, a certified nursing assistant who works three jobs caring for elderly individuals. Due to not having a car, she relies on cabs to travel between her jobs and provide care to those in need. Hamilton mentioned that she considers the people she cares for as part of her family, highlighting the strong relationships that can develop between caregivers and clients.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand emphasizes the importance of compensating and supporting long-term care workers for the essential work they provide. She believes that