24 Feb 2008 12:12:41 | ANCOR and United Cerebral Palsy
As the debate in Washington and state houses across America is
focused elsewhere, the health and quality of life for millions
of Americans is endangered by an alarming shortage of
professional caregivers. Even more troubling, demand for
services among people with disabilities and aging Americans is
rising dramatically. Two leading national disability
organizations have launched www.WhoWillCare.net to raise public
awareness about this largely ignored crisis.
Professional caregivers, also known as direct support
professionals, are the key to quality community-based health
care services. They assist people with disabilities and aging
Americans with their daily affairs, including getting dressed,
taking medications, personal hygiene and preparing and eating
meals. With the help of direct support professionals,
individuals with disabilities work, volunteer and contribute to
their communities. Nationwide, the direct support professional
turn-over rate is between 40 to 75% every year because of poor
wages and increasing job demands. Hundreds of thousands of
people with disabilities are already waiting for services and
the Bureau of Labor Statistics says demand for caregivers will
grow 62% through 2010 as Americans grow older. Also, more than
100,000 people with disabilities in the workforce depend on
direct support professionals.
WhoWillCare.net is an Internet-driven campaign created through a
partnership between the American Network of Community Options
and Resources (ANCOR) and United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), two of
the nation’s largest non-profit health organizations whose
respective members and affiliates provide services to hundreds
of thousands of people with disabilities.
“American families already know the impact of the direct support
professional shortage, and those who don’t soon will. Thousands
of families are waiting for help, and millions make do with
little more because there are simply not enough direct support
professionals,” said Renee L. Pietrangelo, CEO of ANCOR.
“WhoWillCare.net is about getting this issue on the radar before
it’s too late.”
A 2003 national report found that direct support professionals
earn an average of only $8.68 per hour, a wage clearly unequal
to their responsibilities. Support professional wages, which are
almost entirely publicly financed through Medicaid, are
increasing well below comparable jobs and even the minimum wage.
According to the Department of Labor, the wages of personal and
home care aides increased only $0.82 from 1992-2000 versus $4.11
for fast food workers.
“WhoWillCare.net recognizes that direct support professionals
make a difference, and that it’s time they make a living too,”
said Stephen Bennett, President and CEO of United Cerebral
Palsy. “We entrust direct support professionals with tremendous
responsibility yet we expect them to work in jobs that don’t
even meet welfare-to-work wage minimums."
In its first phase, WhoWillCare.net calls on supporters to urge
their Members of Congress to cosponsor the bipartisan Direct
Support Professional Fairness and Security Act H.R. 1264 to
protect millions of Americans who depend on direct support
professionals for daily assistance and support. Introduced by
Representatives Lee Terry (R-NE) and Lois Capps (D-CA), the
legislation promotes fair support professional wages in an
effort to stabilize the high turnover and vacancy rates.
Increased wages and lower turnover rates will improve support
for people with disabilities to live in the community and
provide families with assurances that their loved one’s health
and independence is ensured.
Visitors to www.WhoWillCare.net can also learn more about the
issue, read stories about direct support professionals and sign
a petition calling on state lawmakers to take action on this
important issue. For more information visit www.WhoWillCare.net
or download the factsheet.
About Author :
See www.ancor.org for more information on ANCOR.
