Vote YES on Initiative 1029: Protect and improve care for the elderly

We have joined with the Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and nurses, home care workers, prosecutors, sheriffs, and police chiefs across Washington State to support I-1029.

 Here are a few of the reasons why:

I-1029 will protect vulnerable seniors. Most caregivers are compassionate, loving professionals, but every week we see too many headlines about seniors abused and neglected in long term care settings. In July, for example caregivers at an Everett adult family home were arrested for identity theft. They stole thousands from an 83-year old man with dementia. I-1029 will protect vulnerable seniors from these types of tragedies by closing existing loopholes and requiring nationwide FBI background checks for long term care workers. 
 
I-1029 will help seniors live in their own homes. By ensuring that homecare workers receive the same training standards as nursing home workers, it will make it possible for seniors and people with disabilities to get quality, safe, and reliable care in their own homes and communities. 

I-1029 does two simple things:

• It requires home and community-based long-term care workers to complete 75 hours of training – the national standards for nursing home workers - and pass a certification exam to demonstrate basic competence.
• It requires federal FBI criminal background checks for all long-term care workers.
   

The initiative only applies to paid caregivers, not informal and unpaid family providers. The new standards also only apply to caregivers who provide hands-on personal care to vulnerable residents – not part-time workers who might be paid to read books or play checkers to clients.

The initiative is based on the majority recommendation of a Long-Term Care Worker Training Workgroup made up of policy experts, senior advocates, and legislators appointed by the Governor. The legislature failed to adopt the recommendations, which is why supporters are taking them directly to the voters.

I-1029 has broad support – including the Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Elderhealth NW, Washington Education Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Washington State Council of Firefighters, Washington Association of Churches, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Equal Rights Washington, and nurses, home care workers, sheriffs, prosecutors, and police chiefs across the state.

For more information, visit  www.yeson1029.org