Home Care

Placing Missouri on a path toward improved healthcare for thousands of its seniors and people with disabilities, 13,000 home care attendants in Missouri’s consumer directed home care program have voted to join the Missouri Home Care Union, a statewide union of home care attendants.

The vote passed by a landslide margin of 85% Yes to 15% No.

“I’m thrilled. This is fantastic news for Missourians who need home care and for caregivers like me,” said Salem attendant Threasa Bach. “The next step is to join forces with consumers to make home care better and available to more Missourians.”

Home care attendants from across the state voted in the historic election through special mail-in ballot starting on June 29. The election was conducted by the state Board of Mediation and was the largest of its kind in Missouri history.

Currently, home care attendants do not have health insurance benefits, despite being caregivers themselves. They also receive no sick days or vacation time. Many of the consumers in the state struggle to keep caregivers on the job, as 40-60% of attendants leave their positions every year for jobs with benefits or higher compensation.

Recently, the AFSCME Missouri Quality Home Care Partnership helped ensure that the voices of personal care attendants and home care consumers were heard on Disability Rights Day at the Capitol. Workers and advocates came to Jefferson City in person. But often that travel isn't easy, so we brought their voices, stories and experiences to legislators with our Voices campaign video, which you can watch below...

(Jefferson City MO)  AFSCME supports self-determination and the lowering of barriers to full participation in society.  We support the ability to live independently and with dignity, in one’s home and as part of one’s community.  We support consumer choice through policy and through the daily direct assistance work of tens of thousands of our members.  

AFSCME supports more choices and a more flexible system of services and supports for people with disabilities.  We support the funding necessary to expand home and community-based services.  And we support maintaining consumers’ ability to independently select, hire, terminate and direct the work of the attendant. 

The Community Choice Act expands options, requiring states to amend their state Medicaid Plans to include a community-based attendant services and supports program; and CCA funds the design of systems for community attendant services, available as a consumer entitlement.

AFSCME Council 72 endorses the Community Choice Act. 

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