On the backs of the poor

[kickysnana]

45,000 MN Home Health Care Aids and PCAs make between $8 and $15 an hour. Most work multiple shifts of 1-4 or long shifts of 12-16 hours a day and are required to provide their own transportation. Most have no benefits.

COLA increases for 2008 and 2009 are being rescinded .42 an hour and some companies who work on slim margins are taking it out of workers checks this month. Even if nobody comes to relieve the worker they will only be paid 16 hours in a day. All clients paperwork has had to be resubmitted to doctors, social workers, waver agencies by Home Health companies. Approved hours may change up or down according to the new guidelines. Not all paperwork was done by July 1st and workers who have worked for people who were not re-approved may not get paid (and they will have no warning or they make take money out of future checks). More clients will be eliminated January 1st. Remaining clients hours will be cut in half in 2010. Many more will be eliminated in 2011.

Nursing and assisted living costs are more than double what it costs for home health care so this is not saving money it is costing more money. People will be put in dangerous situations.

One more wonderful fact from the idiots in the offices downtown. Gloves for care workers will no longer be provided because they are a hygiene item, not a health care item.

[annm4peace]

1. this article should have had a lot of clicks !

this is serious. think of what kind of care you will be getting now! how much is it goign to cost you.
I know you care about this issue but I was surprised I was the only one who gave it a kick

[dflprincess]

2. It has had a lot of views

when I first looked at it, it was new and didn't need a kick.

[cynthia]

3. in home care is cheaper for all of us

and more dignified for the clients. We should be funding home health care and group homes for disabled people. In the old days they were put in institutions, now they call those institutions "nursing homes". It is far better (and cheaper for society) to pay these workers a fair wage and keep these clients in their homes (or group homes)

[Minnesota Raindog]

4. This is what we could expect from "President Tim Pawlenty"

For that reason, you should cross-post this to Presidential Politics Discussion.