Source: United States Senator for Ohio Sherrod Brown
CLEVELAND, OH – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) participated in a roundtable discussion with SEIU members and other home care workers to discuss needed investments in home and community-based services (HCBS).
“These Ohioans shared their stories about the work they do caring for Ohioans – some of the toughest and most important work in our society. Yet it so often doesn’t pay off like it should. Caregiving has not been treated or paid like the essential work that it is,” said Brown. “Without caregivers, no other work would be possible. Caregiving IS infrastructure – and it’s time we treat it that way.”
Brown discussed his support of President Biden’s proposed historic $400 billion investment in HCBS in the American Jobs Plan, which would expand access to services, lead to better compensation and benefits for workers, and help to create middle-class jobs.
Brown is a cosponsor of the newly introduced Better Care Better Jobs Act, which would put President Biden’s proposal into action by expanding HCBS; strengthening the home care workforce; encouraging innovative models that benefit care workers and recipients; supporting quality and accountability; and facilitating state planning to develop HCBS infrastructure plans.
Under our current long-term care system, too many people cannot access the care they need in their homes and communities even though these are the environments where most people prefer to receive care. The Better Care Better Jobs Act would provide states with enhanced Medicaid funding for home and community-based services if they carry out certain activities that will support expanding access to these services and strengthen the workforce providing them. It would also provide funding to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to carry out the bill’s programs and conduct oversight, include incentives for states to expand supports for family caregivers, and create opportunities to strengthen and expand the home care workforce.
Read more about the Better Care Better Jobs Act here.
Brown was joined by several home health care workers from across Northeast Ohio who spoke about their experiences working during the pandemic and caring for clients.
“You don’t go into this field unless you really have a heart to do it,” said SEIU member and Youngstown care worker Rackell Ellis. “Not that I would ever change my job. I love my residents I love them with all my heart.”
“When COVID hit everything shut down. For my clients who I cared for on a daily basis I became their everything,” said SEIU member and home health care worker Leroy Landrum.
Landrum went on to explain why home health care workers who care for the most vulnerable need care themselves — in the form of better pay and benefits.
“I give the care that I give to my clients because they matter. I just want enough to be able to take care of my family and to be able to hold my head up high and say I matter,” Landrum continued.
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