Facing increasing costs and decreasing revenues, Solid Ground will close our Home Care program on December 31. “This was an incredibly difficult decision,” says Cheryl Cobbs, Executive Director. “Over the past 29+ years, we have helped thousands of seniors and people with disabilities live as independently as possible.” For years, Home Care has cost more to operate than we receive in contracts for its services — due to the fact that we have consistently paid our community aides the highest wages in Washington State.

“As an anti-poverty agency, it has been critical for us to pay a living wage for this vital work. The disturbing reality is that our society does not place enough value on taking care of our elders and people with disabilities in their own homes to make this work sustainable,” says Cobbs. Solid Ground recently completed negotiations with other area home care providers and the union that represents our community aides to create a seamless transition of services for clients and staff well in advance of the program closure date.

Read more about the Home Care program closure in “Home Care program to shut down: ‘We’ve reached the end of a cliff’ ” by Seattle Times reporter Maureen O’Hagan, 11/11/08.