Governor signs legislation to improve caregiver training

On Tuesday, May 8, with dozens of home care workers looking on, Governor Gregoire signed legislation to improve training for home care and other community-based long-term care workers. The legislation will:

• Require peer mentoring for all new caregivers starting in 2010
• Offer 65 hours of advanced specialty training to all caregivers starting in 2011
• Create a work group of worker representatives, providers, advocates, and elected officials to set a new training standard for home care, adult family home, boarding home, and other long-term care workers

This is an exciting first step towards dramatically improving training for home care workers. This will give us the training we need to provide quality care to culnerable elderly and disabled residents who want to live in their homes and communities.

Linda Lee, home care worker, Vancouver

For more information, see the SEIU 775 Training Blueprint (pdf)!