My son Rob Stone, age 25, an artist and advocate, has disabilities and complex medical needs. Rob takes classes, plays baseball, and enjoys the occasional glass of whiskey. He lives at home, where he belongs, with the help of Medicaid’s Home and Community-Based Services. Receiving care at home allows him to stay with his family and remain part of his community. He’s part of a growing segment of our disability and aging population who wish to receive care at home. But the future for people like Rob — and their families — is jeopardized by the home care worker staffing crisis. Low pay and lack of benefits are causing many workers to leave the caregiving profession to take soulless jobs at warehouses and fast-food restaurants. Many love the caregiving profession but feel like they have no other choice because they cannot support their families with their wages. This exodus hurts the quality of care for Rob and others and puts enormous pressure on families like mine.
