State Budget Improves Wisconsin Home Care

Home health care aides across the state praise the Wisconsin Legislature and Governor Doyle for the creation of the Wisconsin Quality Home Care Authority (WQHCA), which was included in the Governor’s budget. The WQHCA creates a registry to aide seniors in finding qualified independent home health care providers, provides training to caregivers, and allows workers a choice whether to unite as a union.

“The budget signed today will improve homecare and allow more seniors and people with disabilities to live where they want – in their own home,” announced Mike Thomas, President of the SEIU Wisconsin State Council.

Currently, many families in Wisconsin have difficulty finding experienced home care aides as they are left to their own to recruit through classified ads or community bulletin boards. Without the most basic benefits, or trainings provided to new workers, turnover is exceptionally high. Seniors and people with disabilities who cannot find stable care providers are often forced into more costly state institutions such as nursing homes.

Through the WQHCA, people searching for home health care aides may use a statewide registry that will match them with caregivers best suited to meet their needs. Trainings will be available to both new and current home health care aides to improve care to consumers.