Operators Disband Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities, Threatening Care Standards and Undermining Worker Progress

Executive Vice President Erica Bland of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana today responded to the decision by the Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities (IAHCF) to disband, dismantling a unified framework encompassing over 126 nursing homes across the state with frontline care provided by over 10,000 healthcare workers represented by SEIU Healthcare:

“The Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities’ decision to disband jeopardizes the years of steady and significant progress that our members have helped to drive towards the quality care that the state’s nursing home residents need and deserve. While the Association asserts that this move is intended to provide these facilities with more flexibility—it is in essence a maneuver to avoid the owners’ shared responsibility to uphold minimal standards of care by weakening the existing standards that keep residents and workers safe.

“We cannot forget who this decision impacts the most—the residents who rely upon these homes for compassionate care, and the dedicated workers who show up every day to provide it. The Association contract sets a floor—not a ceiling—for wages, healthcare, paid time off and other benefits. It allowed operators to exceed those standards if needed, while still ensuring a baseline of dignity and fairness. 

“These nursing homes are funded by public dollars—whether through Medicaid, Medicare, or other sources of state support. That means these operators have a responsibility to deliver care that meets high standards for quality and safety.

“By disbanding the Association, nursing home owners are asserting that while they are happy to take collective public money in the form of taxpayer dollars, they want to avoid any collective responsibility for staffing standards, quality care metrics, and the competitive wages and benefits that are crucial to maintaining care standards.

“We look forward to ongoing discussions with nursing home owners to reach fair agreements that uphold safety, respect, and quality care. We need action from political leaders to ensure that public funds lead to public good—not to profit-driven decisions that weaken care standards. We will fight to keep nursing home operators accountable to the standards that make these facilities safe places to live and work.”

Background:

Who is the IAHCF and Why This Matters

The Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities (IAHCF) represents over 126 nursing homes across the state, spanning multiple ownership groups and responsible for the care of thousands of vulnerable residents. The Association contract has provided a unified framework that established minimum standards for wages, staffing levels, and care quality across these facilities. It includes around 15 different ownership groups, and encompasses over 10,000 healthcare workers represented by SEIU Healthcare IL/IN. The current Association contract is set to expire on May 1, 2025. The decision by these operators to disband threatens to unravel years of hard-fought progress on improving conditions in these homes.

The Real Impact on Our Communities These nursing homes are not just facilities—they are homes for thousands of residents, many of whom are elderly or in fragile health, relying on dedicated caregivers for their daily needs. The workers in these homes, who have been at the frontline of care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, deserve stability and fair treatment. These caregivers—nurses, CNAs, dietary staff, and more—sacrificed their own safety to keep these nursing homes open and care for others when it mattered most.

When operators choose to disband the Association, it is not just a bureaucratic move; it is a choice that will lead to direct consequences for the residents and their families. It means fewer staff to provide care, more turnover among caregivers, and diminished quality in the support provided to those who call these facilities home. These residents deserve dignity, respect, and the assurance that their care is prioritized—not seen as an area for corporate cost-cutting.

A Call for Political Leadership and Accountability

We urge political leaders, at both the state and federal levels, to take a stand. The operators’ formal actions to withdraw from collective accountability require immediate intervention from those responsible for funding nursing home care and regulating the industry. Policymakers have a direct role in ensuring that public funds are used to support high-quality care—not to line the pockets of corporate operators who prioritize profit over people.

The disbandment of the IAHCF is not just an issue for nursing home workers—it is an issue for every family who has entrusted their loved ones to these facilities. Our communities deserve to know that their parents, grandparents, and neighbors are receiving the care they need from a workforce that is respected and supported. Anything less is unacceptable.

What’s Next? SEIU Healthcare IL/IN will continue to fight for the rights of nursing home workers and residents. As the expiration date for the current Association contract approaches, SEIU will work to hold individual operators accountable and engage in negotiations that protect the gains we have fought for. The public should expect ongoing updates as negotiations unfold and as we seek to maintain consistent standards for care and compensation across Illinois.

Standing Together for Accountability

SEIU Healthcare is actively working with state leaders to ensure that these standards remain intact, and we are committed to pushing back against any effort to destabilize our progress. The residents and workers in nursing homes deserve better, and we are not backing down from the fight to make sure they receive it.

About SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana

SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana represents thousands of healthcare and nursing home workers across Illinois and Indiana, advocating for higher standards in long-term care, including fair wages, safe staffing, and respect for both workers and residents.  

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