Association Urges Action to Keep Private In-Home Care Affordable
The Private Care Association (PCA), an organization dedicated to referring self-employed caregivers, recently rallied at a Washington, D.C., fly-in to petition U.S. senators and representatives to preserve the Companionship Services Exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The exemption enables seniors to afford private in-home care and remain in their homes as they age.
According to PCA, repealing the Companionship Services Exemption could cause the cost of in-home care to rise from $20 per hour to $30 per hour. The current exemption allows a senior or person with a disability to receive care for an extended time period without being charged overtime.
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that it intends to narrow the Companionship Services Exemption by April 2013.
The PCA has outlined drawbacks to the department’s plan:
- With the higher host, seniors or people with disabilities might be forced to seek out government-funded nursing homes and/or Medicaid support.
- Caregivers’ hours will be cut, limiting their schedules to under 40 hours per week.
- Seniors will require more caregivers as a result, which might compromise the quality of care.
PCA is asking caregivers and consumers of in-home care to speak out by sending a letter to their elected officials. To access the letter, click here.