WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, March 23, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA) held a hearing entitled, “An Economy That Cares: The Importance of Home-Based Services,” which examined how a major investment in home-based services would provide financial relief for American families and enable millions of family caregivers to get back to work.

Casey highlighted his Better Care Better Jobs Act, which would expand access to services for seniors and people with disabilities including support with eating, bathing and moving around the house and neighborhood.

This Act would also strengthen the caregiving workforce that provides such vital services, raising wages and expanding access to benefits. As a result of the investments, family caregivers, many of whom left their jobs to care for a loved one, will be able to return to work.

In Pennsylvania, the pre-pandemic median wage for a home care worker was just $11.99 per hour, and many have few or no benefits.

Casey invited Brandon Kingsmore to the hearing with his caregiver, Lynn Weidner.

Kingsmore testified, “With the way things are now, people like me wake up each morning, not knowing if a home care worker will be there that day. Oftentimes, they’re working one or two other jobs because the pay for care jobs is so poor, so they only have an hour or two to provide care for someone who needs help 24/7…. Without a home care worker, I don’t have a life. I can’t go anywhere or do anything. I have a life. I have a voice. I have feelings. I have goals and ambitions.”

He continued, “Our current long term care system does not have the funding and resources necessary for recruiting, training and sustaining a home care workforce. The system is crumbling — especially after COVID-19. And that’s why we need action now.”