Jul 10 2026
Home care workers are the backbone of our communities, but they are undervalued and underpaid. And in a moment when our elders and loved ones need long-term care more than ever, Maryland’s home care workforce shortage has left our communities struggling to access the services they desperately need.
The best way to recruit home care workers is to pay a living wage and guarantee paid sick and safe leave. Right now, state-contracted agencies that provide personal assistance services to aging Marylanders and those with disabilities are reimbursed at $25.58 per hour to compensate home care workers who serve Medicaid recipients. But under the current law, most of those home care workers are only guaranteed the state’s minimum wage. Just as alarming — tens of thousands of Maryland home care workers who work with smaller agencies do not have access to paid sick leave, a crucial benefit that allows them to protect their health and the health of their clients.
The Maryland General Assembly can address Maryland’s care crisis by passing a law to raise home worker wages and extend paid sick and safe leave benefits to all Personal Care Aides who serve Medicaid HCBS beneficiaries.
Legislators need to hear from you. Amplify your support with a personal message below—it’s time to ensure that home care workers are compensated fairly for the critical work they do.