Researcher ORCID Identifier

0000-0002-0152-8363

Graduation Year

2022

Date of Submission

12-2021

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Government

Reader 1

Professor Pitney

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Rights Information

@2021TessaMGuerra

Abstract

Care workers are essential to the United States. The workforce consists of workers in nursing homes, facilities for the sick or disabled, community-based settings, home-and-care based services, or in private homes as health or personal care aides. The need for care workers is enormous; in addition to high turnover within each care sector, there is significant attrition from the industry. Inadequate wages, little to no healthcare benefits, no paid medical or personal leave, and a constant lack of respect by others towards the field results in tremendous job dissatisfaction. The revolving door contributes to another problem: more than 800,000 Americans are on Medicaid waiver waitlists and must enter institutional care. The care worker population consists mostly of women of color. Care workers have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and many have lost their jobs, governmental support, and their lives. Nursing homes and other care alternatives were hit the hardest during the pandemic and lacked resources to prevent the spread of the virus because the government lacks investment in legislation that protects care workers. The Biden Build Back Better Plan is currently the best solution to the problems in the care work industry. The plan will increase wages, increase benefits such as paid leave and childcare, and will expand Medicaid coverage for those in need of care. Furthermore, the bill will decrease worker shortages, encourage worker retention, and improve care for beneficiaries.

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