PHI has been covering the effects of rising gas prices on direct-care workers since early this summer. Now, as our nation’s economic crisis grows more severe, the challenge to these low-wage workers has intensified.

The National Direct Service Workforce Resource Center held a webinar earlier this week called “Gas Price Increases & Other Transportation Challenges for Direct Service Workers.” The presentation included an overview of the problem, a description of approaches used by states and providers to address the issue, and information on related Medicaid reimbursement policies and options. Read the full story

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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Elders Vulnerable as Caregivers’ Real Wages Fall

Gas prices depressing workers’ already low wages to near minimum wage

Bronx, NY, August 11, 2008— Contradicting the law of supply and demand, America’s personal and home care aides are seeing their real wages (adjusted for inflation) decline as demand for their services rise. In its most recent publication, State Chart Book on Wages for Personal and Home Care Aides, 1999-2006, PHI documents wage trends for all 50 states.

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A July 6 feature in the New York Times details ways that high gas prices are making it difficult for elders nationwide to access Meals on Wheels, home care, and other social services.

As Gas Prices Soar, Elderly Face Cuts in Aid is brimming with sobering facts, figures, and quotes – like one from home Katie Clark in Union, Michigan. A single mother of two, Clark says an elderly couple she assists are “just like family to me,” but she sometimes has to borrow money so she can get to their house. Clark earns about $250 a week and spends $100 of it on gas.

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Everywhere I go, people are talking about how the high price of gas is affecting home care workers and agencies. Organizations are contacting me and my colleagues for ideas on how to deal with it, so I’d be very interested to hear from people in other parts of the country. How are employers and workers and clients dealing with it? Are any states planning a response to this crisis? If so, what’s being considered?

Four-dollar-a-gallon gasoline exacerbates all recruitment and retention problems, and I fear that it forces workers to make some very difficult choices. Employers are calling workers to offer them cases and having the workers do the gas calculations and say “I can’t afford to take this one.” Home care aides are seeing their co-workers go to other jobs where they don’t have such stressful transportation issues.

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