It’s safe to say that when we are sick or in need, we want to be in the comfort of our own homes. Delaware’s home care programs allow medically-fragile individuals to receive the services they need to stay safe, healthy, and live the highest quality of life — in their own homes. But too often, home care is not a readily available option for seniors and residents with disabilities, as Delaware’s public funding formula does not currently allow in-home caregivers to earn a competitive wage.
When providers cannot recruit and retain enough in-home aides and nurses to meet these essential needs, residents who need care can’t access it. Often, their family members must call out of work, miss out on sleep, or forgo other responsibilities to care for their loved one. In many cases, family caregivers end up quitting their jobs altogether to provide care or must make the difficult and costly decision to place their relatives in an institutional setting. State involvement is necessary to ensure that the Delawareans who need home care now, and in the future, can obtain it.