Welch Measure Raises Home Care Workers’ Take-Home Pay

HILLSIDE, Ill. – To ensure top quality services are granted for Illinois’ seniors and improve the lives of caregivers, state Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, is demanding that the in-home care provider’s hourly wage be raised to $15 per hour.

“Nearly 100,000 seniors across Illinois are receiving vital care thanks to the dedication and selflessness of home care providers,” said Welch. “The hourly wage for in-home care workers is $11 right now, and it is time we raise their pay to make sure they can keep the job they love while continuing the great work they perform for our seniors.”

Welch is highlighting legislation that would increase the hourly wage for senior and in-home care workers to $15 an hour by 2021. This increase is being sought after in part due to Gov. Rauner’s assault against public sector employees and because wages have stagnated over the last decade, failing to keep up with cost of living adjustments and minimum wage laws that are being phased in throughout Cook County and Chicago. Welch’s bill levels the playing field for service providers by establishing necessary wage increases, to ultimately help meet skyrocketing demand for skilled and devoted workers.

“Failing to raise worker pay is another way to slowly eliminate this job and is forcing these provides to find other employment,” said Welch. “While our governor pushes for more extreme policies and actions that hurt working families, I’ll be opposing his ideas and standing alongside our workers and seniors.”