Minnesota’s home care workers fight for retirement benefits
Viktor Solberg moved home to the Iron Range of Minnesota to care for his mother, Jeri Solberg, full-time. He and other home care workers represented by SEIU Minnesota hope to get retirement benefits in their next contract with the state.
Courtesy of Viktor Solberg
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If you’re looking for job security, you might consider being a home health or personal care aid. It’s the highest demand job in Minnesota, according to the state government. That need is only expected to increase as the population ages. But the median wage for home health and personal care aides is just over $35,000 per year, which leaves little to save for retirement.
Now the union that represents many of these workers is asking the state to chip in for retirement in their next contract. Viktor Solberg lives on the Iron Range, cares for his mother full-time and is active in his PCA union, SEIU Minnesota.
Solberg joined MPR News host Nina Moini to talk about his work on better benefits for PCAs in Minnesota.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
NINA MOINI: Well, if you're among the people looking for job security, you might consider being a home health or personal care aide. It's the highest demand job in Minnesota right now. That's according to the state. And that need is only expected to increase as our population continues to age.
But the median wage for a home health and personal care aide is just over $35,000 a year, which leaves little to save for retirement. Now, the union that represents many of these workers is asking the state to chip in for retirement in their next contract. Joining me now to talk about this is Viktor Solberg, who lives on the Iron Range and cares for his mother full-time. Thank you so much for joining us, Viktor.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Thank you for having me on.
NINA MOINI: Can you start, please, by just explaining for anyone who doesn't know what personal care assistance and home health aides do?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: What we do varies greatly depending on what our clients need. Our clients can age anywhere from baby infants all the way up to, I think-- I believe Ms. Deb, one of our fellow union members, said she was caring for someone until they were 102 years old. So clearly, the needs of a toddler would be quite different.
But on the day-to-day, we spend time with our clients, taking care of them in whatever need that may be, if that's helping them take a shower, use the restroom, making sure that they eat, all the way up to cooking the food, and if need be, feeding them. That's what we do.
Other things we do, for example, what I do specifically for my mom is a lot of what I do is taking her to appointments, making sure she takes her medication, and making sure she's comfortable and safe enough to be able to go out into her community and still be part of her community, rather than being isolated at home.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, I mean, this is super important work. Tell us a little bit, if you would, about how you came to this decision to become your mom's full-time caregiver.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Well, I've been my mom's caregiver, in one form or another, since I was about 15 when she first got breast cancer. But I formally became her caregiver last year in 2023.
As my mom had the unfortunate issue-- and I've heard that this is quite common-- of-- she would have a PCA for several months, even up to a year, but due to the lack of benefits, such as retirement and health care, they would choose to continue their education and move on to CNA, LPN, various nursing programs.
My mom was going through rehab for her knee replacement, and she didn't have a PCA at the time. And I needed a job. So it was kind of the right place, right time for us to formalize the relationship, if you will. [LAUGHS]
NINA MOINI: Sure. So it's a big decision that you've made. How would it change your situation to be able to get retirement benefits from the state?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: It would change my situation quite drastically. Right now, I'm feeling a little bit like I'm in a bit of arrested development. I have a long-term partner that I love dearly, and I would love to be able to propose to him and marry him. But he's also disabled. He's a disabled artist.
And it doesn't quite feel right to vow myself to take care of him for the rest of our lives when I can't guarantee that I'm going to have retirement, I'm going to have something to take care of us when I eventually get old enough and more disabled to a point where I can no longer work.
NINA MOINI: So we did reach out to the state. And a spokesperson told us that, essentially, the state is exploring options with the union, SEIU, your union. But there aren't many examples of other states offering retirement benefits besides Washington and Oregon they listed.
So they're saying they don't really have an idea of what this program would cost or look like, and state lawmakers would need to approve the contract. We know that power in the state legislature is about to be divided between the two parties. And they're looking at a pretty tight budget for the years ahead. How hopeful are you that this will pan out in the way that you want?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: I'm fairly hopeful that it will, because one thing to remember is that while, yes, this would be something that would add to the budget, initially, people getting a bit of sticker shock, something to remember is that homecare and PCA actually saves the state money over time because we're able to allow people to age and live in their homes, instead of having to go to assisted living facilities, nursing facilities, things of that nature, or even group homes, to get the care they need.
So while there may be a bit of sticker shock to some people seeing this, it is a long-term investment in the state and in our aging population.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, those are big questions all of us will have to examine about our aging population in the years to come. Do you have any advice for people who may be considering getting into this work?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Really, my best advice would be to look to your community. See who in your community needs help, and see if you're able to fill that gap. If, perhaps, that isn't in your community, there are agencies.
However, I do want to note that our bargaining unit is under what's specifically known as Choice PCA, which is where the client chooses the particular PCA individual, rather than the agency model, which is where you basically sign up with an agency and get assigned a client.
NINA MOINI: OK.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: But it is important to note that if you want to get into this work, it is hard work. Your schedule is whatever your client needs it to be. And on the one hand, that can be very flexible. But you do need to keep in mind that your life is now tied to your client. It's very fulfilling work, but it can be very difficult.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, I'm curious to learn more about that. What are some of the most rewarding parts of your job? And keeping in mind that, again, you're caring for an individual that you know and are related to, that other people might not be in that exact situation. But what are the parts of your job that are the most rewarding?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Honestly, the most rewarding part of my job is seeing my mom smile when I get to take her to things that she would never be able to go do, without a PCA. My mom to-- out on outings to-- it helps with her mental health, getting her out in the community. I take her to see movies. I take her to shows down in Duluth. She absolutely loves seeing Zenith City Horror shows.
And then around the holidays, I take her to craft fairs, and just seeing my mom's smile, being able to get out and about and do these things that if she didn't have a PCA or if she was in assisted living, she wouldn't necessarily get to do.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, making a huge difference in someone else's life. Such important work. Victor, thank you for being with us and sharing about your work.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Of course. I'm always, always happy to talk about my work and about my mom to anyone who will listen.
NINA MOINI: Aw, thank you so much. Take care. We'll be following to see what happens with all of this, as the legislature reconvenes in January.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: All right. Thank you.
NINA MOINI: Take care.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: And I hope you all have a great happy holidays.
NINA MOINI: You, too. Take care. Bye-bye. That was Viktor Solberg, a home health worker from the Iron Range. A spokesperson for the union, SEIU Minnesota, said they will need to reach an agreement with the state in January so that it's part of the governor's budget proposal to the state legislature. Lawmakers, again. Start their next session Tuesday, January 14.
But the median wage for a home health and personal care aide is just over $35,000 a year, which leaves little to save for retirement. Now, the union that represents many of these workers is asking the state to chip in for retirement in their next contract. Joining me now to talk about this is Viktor Solberg, who lives on the Iron Range and cares for his mother full-time. Thank you so much for joining us, Viktor.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Thank you for having me on.
NINA MOINI: Can you start, please, by just explaining for anyone who doesn't know what personal care assistance and home health aides do?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: What we do varies greatly depending on what our clients need. Our clients can age anywhere from baby infants all the way up to, I think-- I believe Ms. Deb, one of our fellow union members, said she was caring for someone until they were 102 years old. So clearly, the needs of a toddler would be quite different.
But on the day-to-day, we spend time with our clients, taking care of them in whatever need that may be, if that's helping them take a shower, use the restroom, making sure that they eat, all the way up to cooking the food, and if need be, feeding them. That's what we do.
Other things we do, for example, what I do specifically for my mom is a lot of what I do is taking her to appointments, making sure she takes her medication, and making sure she's comfortable and safe enough to be able to go out into her community and still be part of her community, rather than being isolated at home.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, I mean, this is super important work. Tell us a little bit, if you would, about how you came to this decision to become your mom's full-time caregiver.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Well, I've been my mom's caregiver, in one form or another, since I was about 15 when she first got breast cancer. But I formally became her caregiver last year in 2023.
As my mom had the unfortunate issue-- and I've heard that this is quite common-- of-- she would have a PCA for several months, even up to a year, but due to the lack of benefits, such as retirement and health care, they would choose to continue their education and move on to CNA, LPN, various nursing programs.
My mom was going through rehab for her knee replacement, and she didn't have a PCA at the time. And I needed a job. So it was kind of the right place, right time for us to formalize the relationship, if you will. [LAUGHS]
NINA MOINI: Sure. So it's a big decision that you've made. How would it change your situation to be able to get retirement benefits from the state?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: It would change my situation quite drastically. Right now, I'm feeling a little bit like I'm in a bit of arrested development. I have a long-term partner that I love dearly, and I would love to be able to propose to him and marry him. But he's also disabled. He's a disabled artist.
And it doesn't quite feel right to vow myself to take care of him for the rest of our lives when I can't guarantee that I'm going to have retirement, I'm going to have something to take care of us when I eventually get old enough and more disabled to a point where I can no longer work.
NINA MOINI: So we did reach out to the state. And a spokesperson told us that, essentially, the state is exploring options with the union, SEIU, your union. But there aren't many examples of other states offering retirement benefits besides Washington and Oregon they listed.
So they're saying they don't really have an idea of what this program would cost or look like, and state lawmakers would need to approve the contract. We know that power in the state legislature is about to be divided between the two parties. And they're looking at a pretty tight budget for the years ahead. How hopeful are you that this will pan out in the way that you want?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: I'm fairly hopeful that it will, because one thing to remember is that while, yes, this would be something that would add to the budget, initially, people getting a bit of sticker shock, something to remember is that homecare and PCA actually saves the state money over time because we're able to allow people to age and live in their homes, instead of having to go to assisted living facilities, nursing facilities, things of that nature, or even group homes, to get the care they need.
So while there may be a bit of sticker shock to some people seeing this, it is a long-term investment in the state and in our aging population.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, those are big questions all of us will have to examine about our aging population in the years to come. Do you have any advice for people who may be considering getting into this work?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Really, my best advice would be to look to your community. See who in your community needs help, and see if you're able to fill that gap. If, perhaps, that isn't in your community, there are agencies.
However, I do want to note that our bargaining unit is under what's specifically known as Choice PCA, which is where the client chooses the particular PCA individual, rather than the agency model, which is where you basically sign up with an agency and get assigned a client.
NINA MOINI: OK.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: But it is important to note that if you want to get into this work, it is hard work. Your schedule is whatever your client needs it to be. And on the one hand, that can be very flexible. But you do need to keep in mind that your life is now tied to your client. It's very fulfilling work, but it can be very difficult.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, I'm curious to learn more about that. What are some of the most rewarding parts of your job? And keeping in mind that, again, you're caring for an individual that you know and are related to, that other people might not be in that exact situation. But what are the parts of your job that are the most rewarding?
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Honestly, the most rewarding part of my job is seeing my mom smile when I get to take her to things that she would never be able to go do, without a PCA. My mom to-- out on outings to-- it helps with her mental health, getting her out in the community. I take her to see movies. I take her to shows down in Duluth. She absolutely loves seeing Zenith City Horror shows.
And then around the holidays, I take her to craft fairs, and just seeing my mom's smile, being able to get out and about and do these things that if she didn't have a PCA or if she was in assisted living, she wouldn't necessarily get to do.
NINA MOINI: Yeah, making a huge difference in someone else's life. Such important work. Victor, thank you for being with us and sharing about your work.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: Of course. I'm always, always happy to talk about my work and about my mom to anyone who will listen.
NINA MOINI: Aw, thank you so much. Take care. We'll be following to see what happens with all of this, as the legislature reconvenes in January.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: All right. Thank you.
NINA MOINI: Take care.
VIKTOR SOLBERG: And I hope you all have a great happy holidays.
NINA MOINI: You, too. Take care. Bye-bye. That was Viktor Solberg, a home health worker from the Iron Range. A spokesperson for the union, SEIU Minnesota, said they will need to reach an agreement with the state in January so that it's part of the governor's budget proposal to the state legislature. Lawmakers, again. Start their next session Tuesday, January 14.
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