IHSS workers get raise above minimum wage
A resolution approving a wage increase for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers was approved by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Neal Caiazzo, director of the Plumas County Department of Social Services, was before supervisors making the request.
The resolution authorizes the Nevada-Sierra Connecting Point Public Authority for the wage increase from $12 an hour to $13.50 an hour beginning Jan. 1. This puts IHSS workers 50 cents over the minimum wage.
“As the board may recall, Plumas County is part of a three-county consortium (Sierra and Nevada are the other two) that form the Nevada-Sierra Connecting Point Public Authority,” Caiazzo explained.
The resolution allows the consortium to submit the paperwork to the California Department of Social Services to increase the hourly amount.
IHSS workers are those who serve the most vulnerable population, Caiazzo said. These individuals work with those who are more than 65 years old, disabled or blind, according to information from the California Department of Social Services. Disabled children are potentially eligible also.
Participants must also be eligible for Medi-Cal services.
The program provides trained individuals so that clients can remain in their own homes. “IHSS is considered an alternative to out-of-home care, such as nursing homes or board and care facilities,” according to the state.
IHSS workers are available to clean homes, do laundry, assist with basic needs, do grocery shopping and other chores as requested.
Supervisor Lori Simpson added that one million IHSS and similar program workers would be needed in the United States by next year to meet the increasing demand by senior citizens.
