NEW YORK- 1199 SEIU today joined Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez in unveiling new congressional legislation to improve home healthcare services for the City's elderly public housing residents. Congresswoman Velazquez made the announcement at a Lower East Side residential development for seniors.

"Far too many families, particularly low-income families, are placed in the indefensible position of choosing between work and caregiving responsibilities at home,"said Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez. "With most seniors preferring the freedom, familiarity and comfort of living in their own home, as well as the significant cost of in-patient care, it's essential that we improve the state of our homecare system. This legislation will create a pilot home-based care services job training program that, with time, will help ensure our most vulnerable residents get the care they need."

The legislation, the "Home-Based Health Services Job Training and Caregiving Act of 2008,"will create a three-year pilot program for home-based care services job training. Public housing residents will receive home health services training from state-certified organizations, such as Community Health centers, Labor organizations, and home care providers. These newly trained residents will be matched with elderly or disabled public housing residents who are Medicaid eligible.

"1199 SEIU represents tens of thousands of homecare workers throughout New York State, we know first-hand the essential services they provide our elderly and disabled citizens,"said Aida Garcia, Executive Vice President of SEIU 1199.  "However, far too many low-income residents do not have the resources they need to take advantage of the quality care home based caregivers provide.  Instead, they often rely on family and friends, or worse, go without care entirely.  1199 applauds Congresswoman Velazquez for this important piece of legislation that will go far toward bolstering our home care sector for those who need it most."

"Without a doubt, low-income elderly or disabled citizens are by far the most at risk when it comes to their safety and health,"said Dennis Rivera, Chair of SEIU Healthcare. "Home-based care is one of the most cost-effective means for the elderly and disabled to receive proper care.  Additionally, with the entrance of aging baby boomers, we must do everything we can to strengthen the infrastructure of the homecare industry.  This legislation will help ensure that the workforce will be prepared to provide care to an expanded patient base."

Rivera and Velazquez were both recently honored by the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Committee for their activism and achievements on behalf of working families.  Rivera was named this year's parade Grand Marshal and Velazquez was given the Committee's Lifetime Achievement award.

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