The Nebraska Cooperative Development Center, in partnership with the Northwest Cooperative Development Center of Washington state, has developed a six-week Homecare Worker Cooperative Academy designed to take caregivers through the cooperative development process. Interested caregivers across Nebraska are invited to participate.
Worker cooperatives, which traditionally have higher pay, higher employee retention and higher levels of worker satisfaction; can provide an employment alternative to homecare workers who want to have a say in how their homecare business is run. In a homecare cooperative, caregivers are the owners of the business and make decisions through a democratic process.
Video: Cooperatives: Building a Base for the Future Webinar Series - Elder Care Cooperatives with Deborah Craig and Charlotte Narjes
Why the Homecare Worker Cooperative Pilot
Aging America
•Between 2010 - 2030, the number of older (over 65) Americans is predicted to double to 73 million.
•10,000 are Americans retiring every day.
•Baby Boomers began to turn 75 in 2021.
•For the first time in history, people over 65 will outnumber children under 5.
•The percent of elderly that are 90 and over has doubled since 1980.
Source: US Census
•16.2% of Nebraskans are over age 65.
•Nebraskans age 65+ outnumber those under 5 by 9%.
•Rural Long Term Care Facilities are closing.
Caregiver shortage
•Between 2010 and 2030, personal care workers will be the fastest growing job in the country.
•Demand for these positions expected to increase by 70% in the next 20 years.
•Currently there are about 3 million direct care workers and by 2030 will need approximately 5 million.
•Low wages, few benefits make recruiting difficult.
•Aging workforce – need younger workers.
•High turnover rates.
What is a Homecare Worker Cooperative?
•A private business that is owned and operated by the people who work for the business.
•A worker co-op is owned democratically by its members - each member owns one share of the business.
•Member-owners set the wages, benefits and policies.
•Members have a say in how the business is managed.
•Members have a greater influence on the quality of care.
•Profits go back to the workers.
For more information, contact:
Cindy Houlden, Cooperative Development Specialist, choulden2@unl.edu
Downloadable Homecare Worker Cooperative Fact Sheet