Investing in home care is vital

As a newly elected representative for Delaware, I have the honor of serving a district located in the fastest-growing county in the state and which has an increasingly aging population. Over the next several years, many of my constituents will reach the age where they may need assistance with daily activities – if they haven’t reached it already. This demographic shift is one of the most pressing issues our state will face in the coming decades. And while the challenges are significant, they also present an opportunity to build a system that provides quality care, supports our workforce and allows individuals to live with dignity in the comfort of their own homes.

Home care is not just an issue of compassion; it is a vital economic and public health concern. As our population ages, more and more Delawareans will require some form of long-term care. And while nursing homes and other institutional care settings are important options, the overwhelming majority of older adults prefer to age at home. According to recent studies, over 90% of seniors express a desire to stay in their homes for as long as possible, and when given the choice, they thrive in that environment.

At-home care not only meets this human desire for independence and comfort, but also makes good economic sense. Investing in home care enables individuals to remain in their homes and communities longer, while also saving money in the long run. The cost of home care is usually far less than institutional care, particularly when compared to the substantial expenses of nursing homes, long-term care facilities and hospital stays. However, funding for Delaware’s Medicaid home-care programs has not kept pace with funding for these facility-based institutions, leaving home-care providers unable to compete for the professional caregiver workforce.

The home-care industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Delaware and across the nation, but it is also facing an acute shortage of qualified professionals. This workforce crisis exists in large part because the pay for home-care aides, nurses and therapists is lower than their colleagues who work in facilities. Home care, which is extremely demanding both physically and emotionally, takes a special kind of caregiver.

We must do better to support and incentivize people who are able to do this critical work. Providers must be able to raise wages to attract more qualified, compassionate people to this field. We cannot expect our home care workers to provide the best service if they themselves are struggling to care for their own families.

Legislators must continue to step in. Delaware’s state funding for Medicaid home-care programs is a critical step toward addressing this issue. Without enhanced and sustained investment, home-care providers will continue to struggle to offer competitive wages, attract a professional home-care workforce and truly meet the needs of our aging population.

As I begin my tenure in the Delaware Legislature, I will advocate for policies that support the home-care industry, and in turn, our most vulnerable residents. Our state has a responsibility to meet the needs of our aging population, and that includes supporting the compassionate, in-home caregivers who are essential to helping them live with independence and dignity.

This is not just a matter of policy; it is a matter of human dignity and economic common sense. Delawareans deserve to age in place with the support they need, and the caregivers who provide that support deserve to be treated with the respect and appreciation they’ve earned. 

So many people are relying on the aide or nurse to show up for the next shift. Let’s make sure they do.