“People with disabilities, older adults, and family caregivers are struggling to get care needs met even if they are in Family Care, IRIS, or CLTS,” said Jason Glozier, Survival Coalition Co-Chair. “Survival Coalition’s survey clearly shows our current Home and Community Based Service system supplements the unpaid work families are already doing everyday.”
Unpaid family caregivers are relied on to provide daily care needs and fill in gaps when paid workers don’t show up or there are no workers available to hire.
The survey found in a typical week that more than a third of all unpaid caregivers are providing care that is the equivalent to a full time, or more than full time job. Most survey respondents said they are caring for people who are getting some care needs met by Family Care, IRIS, or CLTS.
Not everyone who needs care has family to rely on for care ‘back up.’ The survey also found 31% of respondents go without care when paid workers can’t make shifts.
“People should not be forced to move into Medicaid funded institutional settings because Family Care, IRIS, and CLTS do not adequately support workers to meet people’s needs,” said Glozier.
Wisconsin’s economy suffers when there is not enough care capacity.
“Home Health Care is one of the fastest growing parts of the healthcare ecosystem. People and families continue to wait for home services due to policy decisions that continue to avoid needed investments toward equitable starting wages and healthcare occupations.” said Patti Becker, Survival Coalition Co-Chair. “Local businesses in every Wisconsin community need workers, and these valuable workers’ care for the most vulnerable citizens, and their families. They pay taxes and spend money in local communities that contribute to our local economies.”
When there are not enough care workers to support families and people with disabilities, more potential workers either leave or are kept out of the workforce.
People with disabilities want to work; when they do not have the support they need to get ready for the work day, it can mean the difference between participating in the workforce or not.
“Unpaid caregivers are working less than they want or leaving the workforce to provide the care that keeps older adults and people with disabilities out of nursing homes and other high-cost institutional settings,” said Tami Jackson, Survival Coalition Co-Chair. “Unpaid caregivers are aging. They cannot provide the same amount of care forever. Wisconsin needs to invest in care infrastructure to keep people in the workforce and out of expensive Medicaid funded institutions.”
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