Impact of minimum wage changes on home care for older adults
Official title: Federal Minimum Wage Expansion and Home Care Utilization and Costs for Older Adults
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-10755749 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how changes in minimum wage laws impact the cost and availability of home care services for older adults, especially those with Alzheimer's and related conditions, to help us understand how these changes affect the quality of care seniors receive at home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $154,457 |
| NIH project number | 5R03AG080212-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10755749 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above, particularly those diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who require assistance with daily activities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 65 or do not require home care assistance may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how changes in federal minimum wage laws affect the availability and costs of home care services for older adults, particularly those with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It examines the growing need for in-home care as more seniors prefer to age at home rather than in nursing facilities. By analyzing the implications of the Home Care Rule, the study aims to understand how wage protections for home care workers influence the quality and accessibility of care for older adults. The methodology includes cost analyses and evaluations of home care utilization patterns among seniors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved access to high-quality home care services for older adults, enhancing their ability to live independently.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that improving wage conditions for home care workers can enhance the quality of care provided to older adults, indicating a positive potential impact of this approach.
Where this research is happening
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Yang — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Wang, Yang
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.