It’s just one sentence out of 52 pages – not including introductions and appendixes – but direct-care workers got a mention in the 2008 Democratic National Convention platform.
In a section titled Renewing the American Community, under the subtitle “Seniors,” the platform (pdf) reads:
“We will take steps to ensure that our seniors have meaningful long-term care options that are consistent with their individual needs, including the option of home care. We believe that we must pay caregivers a fair wage and train more nurses and health care workers so as to improve the availability and quality of long-term care.”
Could this be a sign that a political will is stirring to improve home care jobs?
Elise Nakhnikian, Senior Online Editor
enakhnikian@phinational.org
I was so glad to hear about this…..does anyone know how this happened and what it would take for the R’s to consider such a statement too?
I was glad to hear about this, too. I think we can expect many attempts to amend/change/polish the Platform I would ask for the word “other” to be inserted before the words “health care workders.”
John Hale of the Iowa CareGivers Association just let me know that there are actually two references to direct-care workers in the platform. The first is the call for “A Strong Health Care Workforce.” It’s on page 12, under “Affordable, Quality Health Care Coverage for All Americans,” and it says:
“Through training and reimbursement incentives, there must be a commitment to sufficient and well-qualified primary care physicians and nurses as well as direct care workers.”
Hey, Roy
I haven’t found anyone who knows for sure how that language got into the platform, but when I asked Lee Goldberg of the SEIU’s Long Term Care Division, he listed everyone anyone else had mentioned and then some. So here’s his best guess: “Probably the result of that message coming from a lot of different corners: us, you, IOM panel participants, coalition partners in LCAO, etc…”