State should train those it employs

Published 1:14 pm Friday, February 24, 2012

Initiative 1163 enables seniors and people with disabilities to live independently in their homes, connected to their friends, family and community. The increased training ensures home care workers are qualified and provide safe, quality care to our most vulnerable citizens. Additionally, it’s much more cost effective to provide care for individuals in their homes versus going into expensive nursing homes.

A previous letter stated that Washington state should not pay for training and federal background checks of home care workers. However, it should be noted that employers frequently train their employees. Examples include firefighters and police officers that receive training paid for by the state.

Similarly, home care workers who provide care to Medicaid clients are employed by the state, and their training is paid by the state. Home care workers provide services to our most vulnerable citizens, some of whom have dementia, Alzheimer’s or developmental disabilities.

We must ensure that caregivers are qualified and have passed thorough background checks. Washington voters have passed this initiative twice and it’s time our legislators implemented this common sense initiative.

Jeanne Lidwell

Lake Stevens