SPRINGFIELD – A unanimous vote came down late Thursday night, March 25, in favor of Parity Pay Legislation in the House with a vote of 111-0. HB 4176, commonly known as Parity Pay, would end discrimination against seniors in Illinois homecare by providing wage parity between homecare workers caring for seniors, and those caring for people with disabilties.

Parity Pay would affect over 40,000 senior consumers in Illinois homecare programs, and a workforce of nearly 15,000 homecare workers employed in the private homecare service sector. Because the quality of senior homecare is contingent on the quality of its workforce, ensuring that qualified professionals don't flee from the field due to inadequate wages and benefits has become a concerted effort by homecare agencies, consumer advocates, and the homecare union in Illinois, Service Employees International Union Local 880.

Addus Healthcare is one of the largest homecare employers in Illinois, and one of the fastest growing agencies in the country. As a major player in the Illinois homecare industry, Addus is showing their support for Parity Pay by eliciting hundreds of their senior clients to send postcards asking Gov. Blagojevich to fund Parity Pay.

Darby Anderson, spokesperson for Addus Healtcare said, "I'm glad to see management and labor working together in proposing legislation that will improve not only wages and benefits for homecare aides in the program, but that also benefits seniors. It's great to see the legislature responding positively.” In addition to support from leading vendors like Addus, other business members of the Illinois Association of Community Care Program Homecare Providers have endorsed the Parity Pay Bill.

Seniors are finding it increasingly difficult to hold on to their homecare workers when 20% wage disparities persist. At the same time, seniors show an overwhelming preference for homecare, with more than 4 in 5 Americans 45 and older saying they prefer to have help given to them at their current home, should such assistance become necessary («Fixing to Stay,» AARP, May 2000). The same AARP study shows that seniors are investing in their homes, where three- fourths of seniors 45 and older who make modifications to their home, do so with the intent of living there for another 10 years or more.

" Many people would die or go to a nursing home if they did not have help from a homecare worker. With homecare, they can live in their own homes for a long time. Personally, I don't know how I could live without this help, and my story is not the only one," explained Esfira Gelina, a member of the Jane Addams Senior Caucus. Esfira is a Russian immigrant with limited use of her right hand since an accident she incurred during World War Two. Now, with added back problems that make it difficult to cook and clean, she relies on her homecare worker to remain in her home.

Jane Addams Senior Caucus is just one of many senior advocacy groups mobilizing seniors to fight for their right to quality homecare. Other groups include Metro Seniors in Action, Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans, Area Agencies on Aging, and the Health and the Medicine Policy Research Group.

Homecare has proven itself as the most cost-effective form of long-term care at one-third the cost of institutionalized care. In a tight budget year, the strong legislative support for the parity pay bill demonstrates the value of homecare as legislators looks for solutions to Illinois’ long-term care needs.

“Parity Pay Legislation is good for Illinois homecare consumers, good for homecare workers and good for taxpayers in Illinois,” said Rep. Moffitt, republican sponsor in the House.