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Is anyone else struggling to hire caregivers right now? I have cerebral palsy and I’ve been managing my own caregivers since I was 18. I’m now in my 40s. My care is partially funded through a consumer-directed Medicaid waiver, which means I choose/hire my attendants and Medicaid pays them. I thought once the pandemic let up it would be easier to find personal care aides, that everybody would be looking for jobs. I have never had so much trouble finding help in my life. I have higher than average needs, but I’ve always been able to get care before. I expect my assistants to get the COVID vaccine, which shouldn’t be unusual because this is a healthcare job, but it’s been a problem. I’m paying well above the state home care provider wage of $12.86 per hour, which is putting my family out of pocket for the extra, but we don't have a choice because I can't use the bathroom and shower without help. I live independently in my own home, and had a great quality of life before the pandemic, but now I am frequently stressed and struggling. It took a month to find the person I most recently hired! The labor shortage everyone is talking about… it's real. I'm offering $16 per hour in a fairly low cost of living area and yet it’s hard to find good people. I don’t know what seniors and disabled people are doing if they can only pay the Medicaid wage of $12.86 per hour with no benefits. Even fast food locally is now offering $13-$15 per hour plus benefits for full-time employees. Some local home care agencies offer benefits for full time home health aides, but their hourly rate is only $11-$13. I wonder if anyone is applying! I wrote an article about this. Is the unemployment supplement a factor? If not, why are things so bad right now? Whatever the reasons, we have to do something because so many people with disabilities I know are struggling to find care right now. I just wondered if others here are having this experience. If you/your loved one gets care from a home health age

Is anyone else struggling to hire caregivers right now? I have cerebral palsy and I’ve been managing my own caregivers since I was 18. I’m now in my 40s. My care is partially funded through a consumer-directed Medicaid waiver, which means I choose/hire my attendants and Medicaid pays them. I thought once the pandemic let up it would be easier to find personal care aides, that everybody would be looking for jobs. I have never had so much trouble finding help in my life. I have higher than average needs, but I’ve always been able to get care before. I expect my assistants to get the COVID vaccine, which shouldn’t be unusual because this is a healthcare job, but it’s been a problem. I’m paying well above the state home care provider wage of $12.86 per hour, which is putting my family out of pocket for the extra, but we don't have a choice because I can't use the bathroom and shower without help. I live independently in my own home, and had a great quality of life before the pandemic, but now I am frequently stressed and struggling. It took a month to find the person I most recently hired! The labor shortage everyone is talking about… it's real. I'm offering $16 per hour in a fairly low cost of living area and yet it’s hard to find good people. I don’t know what seniors and disabled people are doing if they can only pay the Medicaid wage of $12.86 per hour with no benefits. Even fast food locally is now offering $13-$15 per hour plus benefits for full-time employees. Some local home care agencies offer benefits for full time home health aides, but their hourly rate is only $11-$13. I wonder if anyone is applying! I wrote an article about this. Is the unemployment supplement a factor? If not, why are things so bad right now? Whatever the reasons, we have to do something because so many people with disabilities I know are struggling to find care right now. I just wondered if others here are having this experience. If you/your loved one gets care from a home health age