Disability advocates testify in support of funding for in-home care in state budget

Dover, Del. – On Tuesday, providers, parents, disabled advocates and nurses testified at the Delaware Archives in support of including increases in the rate of reimbursement for in-home patient care providers in next year’s state budget.

“We’re asking for a 25.5% increase in the rates, which would be a cost of $7.3 million to the state, and we’re asking for a 10% increase to the personal care service rates, which would be a $19.3 million increase to the state,” said Executive Director of the Delaware Association for Home and Community Care Sue Getman.

According to Emily Kariuki, the owner and director of Steps Homecare Services and incoming board member of the DAHCC, in-home patient care providers have not received an increase in their rate of reimbursement in 18 years.

“Even with inflation and everything else. Well, we have seen other industries receive increases. This has not happened in the home care,” Kariuki said.

Haley Schiber has a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder and says her sister Hope, who is also her nurse, is her lifeline for all of her medical needs and much more.

“Having skilled private duty nurses means that I get to be a daughter, a sister, a friend, an artist, a girl working out at the gym, an advocate, a boss lady on wheels, and so much more,” Schiber.

For Hope, the work is fulfilling, but she says many of her colleagues cannot afford to stay with the families that so desperately need their expertise.

“It’s just you. You’re the only clinical provider. So everything medical that you’re doing is on you,” Hope said.

For families, this can mean starting all over if their care provider can’t afford to stay with them.

“Knowing that there is a potential that even our current nurses could leave is terrifying for him because then we’re starting over,” said Heather Holveck. Holveck testified as the grandmother and legal guardian of a child with disabilities.

Stephanie Fortune is also a mother of a child with disabilities and became a nurse to care for her child. She is currently the director of nursing at Care Options for Kids, a private duty nursing company.

“I’m proud of this area, I’m both passionate about it personally and professionally,” Fortune said. “So that’s really why I’m here today. For working hard for parents like myself and parents like [Holveck] that really need the nursing care to be able to live.”

Delaware’s General Assmebly will convene for the first time on Jan. 12.