Every new blog post will come straight to your inbox, with updates, resources, and stories that matter to IHSS caregivers and families.
This community was created out of frustration with a system that too often overlooks us—and out of hope that, together, we can push for better. Here, you’ll find not just information, but the reminder that your work is essential, your voice matters, and change is possible.
Whether you’re here to stay informed, to advocate for fair wages, or simply to feel less alone in the caregiving journey, you’ve found the right place.
Our work as IHSS caregivers saves taxpayers millions every year, yet too often we’re left undervalued. This newsletter is one small way to equip you with knowledge, remind you of your worth, and keep the momentum going for change.
For more than two decades, IHSS wages have been set county by county, leaving some workers at $22 an hour while others earn $16.50. Rising costs add to the strain…
Before the 1970s, people with disabilities and seniors who couldn’t care for themselves had very limited options. Most ended up in state hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions—often far from family and at very high cost to taxpayers. Family members providing care at home were largely unpaid, unsupported, and invisible in public policy.
In the mid-20th century, several forces started to shift this model. The Independent Living Movement of the 1960s–70s advocated for disabled people to live in their communities with dignity, not in institutions. The broader civil rights and disability rights movements pushed government to provide equal access, autonomy, and financial support. And the creation of Medicaid in 1965 opened the door for states to fund community-based care as an alternative to institutional care.
In 1973–1974, California launched In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) as a pilot program in select counties, originally administered under Aid to the Blind and Disabled (ABD). By 1979, IHSS expanded statewide, allowing low-income seniors and disabled residents to hire caregivers—including family members—using state, county, and federal funds.
The core purpose of IHSS was (and remains) to prevent unnecessary institutionalization, save taxpayer money, and allow people to remain safely in their own homes…
