Elderly home care aides have successfully campaigned for better pay and workplace conditions through the “Fight for $15” movement, with workers in at least five states gaining significant hourly raises. The raises and union protections are concentrated in Northeastern and Western states. The campaign has been a boon to low-wage workers, who are often forced into precarious work by their employers. Home care aides must undergo better screening, training and organisation, as well as having better conditions and better pay, to make a difference. Many enter the industry with little to no experience, but are expected to give the same quality of healthcare as nursing homes staffed by professionals. Large gaps in regulation, such as a lack of mandatory checks for criminal history or drug use, also affect the quality of home care provided for elderly patients.
Elderly home care aides have successfully campaigned for better pay and workplace conditions through the “Fight for $15” movement, with workers in at least five states gaining significant hourly raises. The campaign has been a boon to low-wage workers, who are often forced into precarious work by their employers. Home care aides must undergo better screening, training and organisation, as well as having better conditions and better pay, to make a difference. Many enter the industry with little to no experience, but are expected to give the same quality of healthcare as nursing homes staffed by professionals. Large gaps in regulation, such as a lack of mandatory checks for criminal history or drug use, also affect the quality of home care provided for elderly patients.