Low wages put home care workers in crisis

Illinois seniors are facing a care crisis that prevents them from getting the care they need — and it’s getting worse every day.

According to data obtained from the Illinois Department on Aging via the Freedom of Information Act, over 20,000 Illinois seniors are not receiving home care services they need. In 2024, over 12 million hours of scheduled care to help seniors age with dignity at home went unserviced — meaning Illinois seniors are being shortchanged to the tune of millions of hours of care.

The reason for the crisis? We have a poverty-wage-driven shortage of home care workers.

Home care workers dedicate their lives and time to caring for others, yet they’re unable to care for themselves on their low wages. They’re leaving the industry at a rate 50% higher than the average occupation because they can’t afford to stay.

Without support, seniors may wind up in nursing homes, which can cost our state up to five times more than home care.

That’s why we co-sponsored Senate Bill 0120 and House Bill 1330, critical legislation that would increase the wage floor for home care workers from $18 to $20 per hour. This modest $2/hour increase will help ensure that those who care for our loved ones can stay in the industry. To make this a reality, we need our colleagues in the Illinois legislature to vote “yes” to protecting seniors and the people who care for them.

Care work makes all other work possible, and major corporations benefit from it. While Trump prioritizes his billionaire friends over aging Americans, we are insisting those same billionaires chip in and pay what they owe.

It’s up to our fellow legislators to take immediate action and fund our values by passing Senate Bill 0120 and House Bill 1330. Care can’t wait.

State Sen. Celina Villanueva, Chicago

State Rep. Mary Beth Canty, Arlington Heights