Consumer Voice Applauds The Extension Of Minimum Wage And Overtime Protections To Home Care Workers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (Consumer Voice) strongly commends the Department of Labor for the release of a final rule that would extend basic labor protections to our nation's home care workers.

Consumer Voice believes this rule, which would provide these workers with minimum wage and overtime protections under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), is critical to enhancing the quality of long-term care consumers receive in their homes.

As our nation faces a growing elderly population and an increasing population of individuals with disabilities, we also face a greater demand for home care workers. Continuing to deny integral rights to these workers would only serve to endanger the future of the workforce and, in turn, consumer access to home-based long-term services and supports.

From our interactions with consumers, it is evident that home care workers are essential to the quality of life and quality of care for consumers receiving services and supports in this setting.

Extending minimum wage and overtime protections to these workers will result in better quality care for consumers through attracting additional workers to the job; reducing the turnover rate in the profession; and enhancing the overall quality and professionalism of this ever-growing yet long-neglected workforce.

Once again, Consumer Voice thanks the Department of Labor and the Obama Administration for taking this crucial step towards improving the quality of life for home care workers and consumers and advancing quality care.

About the Consumer Voice

The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care was formed as the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform in 1975 because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes. Today, the Consumer Voice is the leading national voice representing consumers on issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves. For more information, visit: http://www.theconsumervoice.org.

SOURCE National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care