In-Home Senior Care Should Be Accessible and Affordable
- Eighty-eight percent of senior citizens prefer to age in place at home instead of moving to a senior living facility. However, this is often difficult to achieve due to a shortage of qualified caregivers, restrictive regulations, and affordability.
- The average cost of full-time, in-home care is around $80,000 annually, and around-the-clock, intensive care can reach $230,000. Medicare does not cover this kind of “non-medical care,” making aging in place unaffordable to most seniors.
- In-home care also provides companionship. Lack of companionship contributes to loneliness and is linked to depression, anxiety, and chronic diseases. Seniors with companionship have improved mental health and longevity.
The Home Care Rule Harms Seniors, Families, and Caregivers
- The Home Care Rule was passed in 2013 and took effect in 2015. This rule narrowed the “companionship services” exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and excluded most in-home caregivers, for elders or children, from minimum wage and overtime exemptions. It also imposed burdensome recordkeeping requirements, which increased costs and discouraged caregiving.
- The Rule’s complexity and costs limit legal caregiving arrangements and push some families to “off-the-books” care, which risks legal and safety issues. It also affects live-in nannies, increasing costs and regulatory burdens for families.
We Can Unleash Caregiving And Create A New Paradigm
- Repeal the 2013 Home Care Rule. Repealing the rule is a critical step to align regulations with caregiving needs.
- Restore the broader FLSA companionship exemption, as proposed by Rep. Mary Miller’s bill. Extend exemptions to live-in nannies.
- Expand the Au Pair program to include senior care and create a community caregiving program to support further legal, affordable in-home care.
Click HERE to read the policy focus and learn how to free up caregivers.