COVID19 has exacerbated systems that were already broken. In my example, my Medicaid Consumer Directed services that pays my Personal Care Attendants have never been paid close to a living wage, health benefits, etc. What that translated to during COVID19 is I could not find any attendants to assist me in my home. I have gone for 5 months without an attendant. When I sign up with agency services, attendants have an extremely high turn over rate.
I also work from home, so if i don't have an attendant to get me out of bed, I also can not clock in for work.
In Virginia, attendants in group homes are paid more than attendants assisting individuals in their own homes. On January 26, 2012, a Settlement Agreement was reached to address the US Department of Justice findings that the Commonwealth of Virginia failed to provide services to individuals with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs as required by the Americans Disabilities Act and US Supreme Court’s Olmsted Decision. This resulted in closings of institutions, but then group homes were built that were smaller versions of the institutions that the US Department of Justice said the state had to close.
If the US Department of Justice requires Virginia to honor the US Supreme Court’s Olmstead Decision that states Virginia must provide community-based services, why are group home attendants paid more than attendants who assist individuals in their community (at home)?
Stop incentivizing (paying more) for serving people with disabilities in institutional type settings, such as group homes. The setting of where an individual receives attendant services should NOT dictate pay rates.
End institutional bias by paying in home attendants a living wage. Support policy that shows equity in access to Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).
My video I use to advocate:
https://youtu.be/r5FTCZIe9bA
Report: Rethinking Direct Care Job Quality:
https://phinational.org/resource/would-you-stay-rethinking-direct-care-job-quality/
