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Adopt a resolution recognizing November as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Home Care Workers Month in Solano County
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services (H&SS) recommends the Board adopt a resolution recognizing November as In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Home Care Workers Month in Solano County.
SUMMARY/Discussion:
H&SS joins the National Association of Home Care & Hospice to recognize November as In-Home Supportive Services Home Care Workers Month to honor the millions of home care workers for the remarkable difference made in assisting the elderly and disabled to live safely and with dignity in their own homes. As individuals age, activities of daily living, household maintenance, managing medical care, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can all become challenging. For more than thirty years Solano County, in partnership with the State of California and the Federal government, has addressed the needs of low-income seniors and people with disabilities by providing them with assistance which allows them to remain in their homes through the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program. IHSS allows families to keep their loved ones close in a familiar environment to maintain a higher quality of life and the home care providers who make this possible are dedicated and committed to serving their clients and the community with sensitivity, honesty, patience, trust, and compassion.
Solano County has approximately 4,100 IHSS home care providers who care for approximately 4,770 clients. As the elderly population grows throughout Solano County, the demand for home care workers, both within the IHSS program and within private pay systems, is expected to increase.
Without the assistance of IHSS home care workers, the cost of caring for a person in a facility outside the home would be more than $7,000 per month versus the average cost of $1,450 per month per client that the IHSS program costs locally. For all of these reasons and more, Solano County would like to recognize the outstanding work that home care workers provide to some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
The resolution will be presented at the November 20, 2017 IHSS Advisory Committee meeting.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact to the County General Fund of adopting the resolution.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to adopt this resolution. This is not recommended as it is an opportunity to recognize the dedication and commitment of IHSS home care workers.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
H&SS worked with the following organizations on the preparation of this item and support the Department in this recommendation: the IHSS Public Authority Advisory Committee, the Area Agency on Aging Serving Napa-Solano, and the Independent Living Resource Center of Solano and Contra Costa Counties.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION