• 在美国，老龄化现象非常严重，因此美国政府出台了一系列法律法规，为那些上了年纪、生活陷于困顿的老人提供帮助。 与此同时，美国地方政府也先后颁布了相关法律法规，以维护家政服务人员的劳动权益。

    In the United States, the aging population is a significant issue, and therefore the U.S. government has enacted a series of laws and regulations to provide assistance to elderly people who are struggling financially. At the same time, local governments across the U.S. have also enacted relevant laws and regulations to protect the labor rights of domestic service workers.

    家政服务

    “家庭照顾计划”：政府拨款，公司经营

    基于对低收入群体养老问题的考虑，美国政府出台了“家庭照顾计划”。 在美国，从事家政工作的人被称为“家务助理”或者家政服务员。 根据“家庭照顾计划”，上岗前，“家务助理”要接受家政服务公司的培训，家政服务公司对家政服务员的管理十分严格。 每个“家务助理”会配备一个追踪器，必须在老人的家里打卡上下班。 公司利用先进的电子技术监管“家务助理”的工作时间，根据其出勤情况和上下班时间来发放工资，以防止其迟到早退。

    如果在某一天公司的电脑显示不出其上下班的时间，那么“家务助理”这一天就算白干了。 对于家政服务人员而言，如果发生了小偷小摸，或者虐待老人和孩子的情况，一旦有老人投诉，公司会马上换人，其行为还将被纳入个人信用记录，被投诉3次的“家务助理”会被直接开除。 “这样做，意在培养家政服务员的敬业精神。 老实说，老人家里的面积都不大，只做清洁卫生，一个多小时就可以做完了。 如果没有其他的工作可做，很多雇主都会让服务员提早回家，但是有了追踪器，谁也不敢提前走了。 ”监管者如是说。

    "Family Care Program": Government-funded, company-operated

    Based on concerns about elder care for low-income groups, the U.S. government launched the "Family Care Program." In the United States, people who perform domestic work are called "home care assistants" or domestic service workers. Under the "Family Care Program," home care assistants receive training from domestic service companies before starting work, and these companies strictly manage their employees. Each home care assistant is equipped with a tracking device and must clock in and out at the elderly person's home. The company uses advanced electronic technology to monitor the home care assistants' working hours and pays them based on their attendance and clock-in/clock-out times to prevent tardiness or early departures.

    If the company's computer doesn't show their clock-in and clock-out times on a given day, the home care assistant will not be paid for that day. ​​For domestic service workers, if there is any theft or abuse of the elderly or children, the company will immediately replace the worker if a complaint is filed by the elderly person.  Their behavior will also be recorded in their personal credit history, and home care assistants with three complaints will be immediately dismissed. "This is intended to cultivate a professional work ethic among domestic service workers. To be honest, the elderly people's homes aren't very large; cleaning and sanitation can be completed in just over an hour. If there's no other work to do, many employers would let the service workers go home early, but with the tracking device, no one dares to leave early," said a supervisor.

    那么，什么条件的老年人才能获得政府提供的家政服务呢? 其一，按照“家庭照顾计划”的要求，年满65岁的美国公民; 其二，生活在贫困线以下; 其三，身体不好需要人照顾的老人。 满足上述条件者才可以申请“家务助理”。 从上述条件可以看出，并不是所有的美国老人都能够获得政府提供的帮助。 就第二个条件而言，根据美国人口调查局的调查：2016年的美国贫困线标准为单身收入低于11880美元、四口之家低于24300美元，65岁以上人口的贫困率为9.3%。

    老人要获得政府的照顾，首先要写一份书面申请。 老人向家政服务公司申请后，政府会派专业人员上门家访(必要时带上翻译)，跟申请的老人见面。 来访者会查看老人吃的是什么药，询问老人患有何种疾病，然后当场决定是否给申请人安排“家务助理”，如果安排“家务助理”，会为其提供每星期多少个小时的家政服务。

    So, what conditions must elderly people meet to receive government-provided home care services?  First, according to the "Family Care Plan," they must be U.S. citizens aged 65 or older; second, they must live below the poverty line; and third, they must be in poor health and require assistance. Only those who meet these conditions can apply for a "home care assistant." As can be seen from these conditions, not all elderly Americans are eligible for government assistance. Regarding the second condition, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2016 U.S. poverty line was an income below $11,880 for a single person and below $24,300 for a family of four, with a poverty rate of 9.3% for those aged 65 and older.

    To receive government care, the elderly person must first submit a written application. After the elderly person applies to a home care service company, the government will send a professional to conduct a home visit (with a translator if necessary) to meet with the applicant. The visitor will check what medications the elderly person is taking, inquire about any illnesses they have, and then decide on the spot whether to assign a "home care assistant" to the applicant. If an assistant is assigned, they will provide a certain number of hours of home care services per week.

    “家务助理”来自家政服务公司。 家政服务公司由个人注册经营，照顾老人的费用来源于联邦政府的拨款。 政府和家政服务公司之间是雇佣和被雇佣的关系，而“家务助理”? 的最新统计，目前，美国家政服务员的最低工资是每小时20美元。 当然，这要视雇主家居环境、面积、具体服务种类而略有不同。 “以每小时20美元服务费为例。 实际上，公司发到家政服务员手里的只有10美元，其余的10美元就由服务公司赚取。 ”业内人士这样说。 截留的10美元，公司用于家政人员的管理、上下班打卡和特殊情况时人员的调度，以及公司的运营维护等。

    "Home care assistants" are employed by home care service companies. These companies are registered and operated by individuals, and the cost of caring for the elderly is funded by the federal government. The relationship between the government and the home care service companies is one of employer and employee. According to the latest statistics, the minimum wage for home care workers in the United States is currently $20 per hour. Of course, this may vary slightly depending on the employer's home environment, size, and the specific types of services provided. "Taking the $20 per hour service fee as an example, the company actually only pays the home care worker $10, with the remaining $10 being kept by the service company," industry insiders say. The $10 retained by the company is used for managing the home care staff, tracking their get off work hours, scheduling personnel in special circumstances, and for the company's operational maintenance.