Consumer-Directed Home Care is vital to ensuring that people with disabilities, older adults, and their families can live with dignity and respect. Consumer-Directed Home Care saves tax payer dollars by providing the most efficient, cost-effective care for Virginians in the setting of their choosing, at their own direction. 

For all of these reasons and more, spouses and parents of minor children should be allowed to work as consumer-directed home care workers for their loved ones, without unnecessary limitations. 

Parents and spouses should not be limited to 40 hours per week. They should not have to use Electronic Visit Verification (EVV). There should not be limits on who can be an Employer of Record (EOR). Furthermore, they should be eligible for respite care hours, and more. 

Consumer-Directed Home Care is essential to ensuring that all Virginians can live with dignity and respect. Virginia should be working to protect and strengthen consumer-direction -- including raising the reimbursement rate, expanding paid leave and other benefits, and ensuring care workers have a voice at work -- to make our Commonwealth a better place for everyone.