Hello Everyone, 

I am starting this petition after recently reading so many articles about the shortage of caregiver jobs, leaving many elderly Americans without care. I was touched after reading the story of the Hofflanders on the Washington Post written by Christopher Rowland regarding the shortage of caregivers & how many elderly people are left fending for themselves now that so many caregivers have quit. Now to give some perspective from a caregivers perspective.

 I’ve worked as a caregiver since I was in high school. I was a CNA (certified nurse assistant, recently let it expire) & I’m currently registered through California Department of Social Services as a HCA  (home care aide) I have worked with various companies as an aide working with children to elderly. I have worked with people that have Autism, Dementia, Alzheimer’s, etc There are so many caregivers quitting for more than just a “lack of pay” it runs deeper than that. How is it possible that people on the front lines of helping people with their everyday day life activities are paid often at times minimum wage or slightly above minimum & not provided health insurance. The most recent caregiving company I worked for did not offer health insurance & fact is many of them don’t. There should be a regulation of these caregiver companies because after talking to so many elderly folks I’ve worked with some of them are paying $20-$40 (could be more or less I am providing an estimate) an hour for caregiver services (some are covered through insurance, but some of them pay out of pocket) & yet caregivers are usually paid $13-$18 (estimate) the hour without benefits.

As a caregiver I have gone home more than once with severe back pain after being assigned a really over weight person that should be a 2 on 1 case without a hoyer lift! I being a real caregiver at heart could not leave a person soiled or unattended & I’d still rotate them, change them, bathe (either shower or sponge bath). I have been assigned cases without knowing the extent of care needed or the people I was being assigned to. Sadly most of the companies I’ve worked for do not give a good description of what you’re getting yourself into. I once went to provide care to a man inside an actual care facility that the staff of that facility did not want to provide care for & I wondered why they had to call an outsider company to assist & when I showed up I got my answer. He apparently thought any female caregiver was his “wife” & he asked me to get ready for sex & flashed me his genitalia & told me to “hop on”. I’ve been assigned hospice clients that I was not properly prepared to work with as I witnessed the body breaking down & I saw this by seeing this patient foaming at the mouth one night. I had not encountered that before & naturally I got them help ASAP & when an RN showed up the loved ones of this person & I were informed that they would pass away soon, that was part of the body shutting down. I was not explained this by the company I worked with at the time. I felt fear for this patient & reacted quickly. I’ve showed up to work with a patient that had brain cancer & the top of this persons skull was not there & I legit got to see their brain & the smell was something that left me really disgusted (the company I worked for DID NOT tell me this) but regardless as a caregiver you move past all of these unusual circumstances & you help your patient/ resident/ client at least the good caregivers do. I know there are some bad ones, but I’ve been blessed to meet many good ones.  

Suffering back pain & PTSD from hard cases is not uncommon for caregivers. I’m not the only one that goes through this. Being a CNA, HCA, caregiver is very hard work. Why are people quitting you ask? It’s more than just the money obviously the pay sucks, there’s no benefits, no mental health support, & the lack of transparency from these companies that hire caregivers is revolting. 

How is it that someone that is REQUIRED to register through the state not be considered a government employee? How is it possible that someone that has to provide LIFE ASSISTANCE not get paid the same as a postal worker that does not require special training to walk around delivering mail? How is it possible that someone that has to literally put their back on the lines to help our aging Americans be treated like their work does not matter?! There are people flipping burgers (no disrespect, just trying to prove a point) that make about the same pay as a caregiver. Do you really have to ask why the caregivers are quitting? Make a change in the life of caregivers around our nation & view them as government employees. Do right by them & tell them they matter too.

Our lives matter & positions matter. Maybe with this change people like the Hofflanders will get the care they need. We all have aging loved ones that will require care at some point, do you want to see your loved ones suffering from lack of care? I’ve been told by an RN that my position doesn’t matter because it requires no real skill & it actually does. Being patient is a skill many don’t have, willingness to assist with daily activities such as bathing & toiletting, & being CPR certified & being quick to react when someone’s  health is declining is a skill! Stop treating caregivers with disrespect. To have a heart to work with people is a skill in my eyes because these are skills not everyone possesses. The Lord knows many people won’t provide the care needed for their loved ones themselves. Make caregiver positions a government job & start regulating these caregiver companies. Caregivers need healthcare, caregivers need a better pay. Caregivers are needed by our special needs & aging Americans. All Americans at some point will need care, help our nation. I write this petition thinking about those that require care & those that are providing care. Please sign this petition if you believe caregivers should be considered a government employee. I’m not asking for them to get paid the same as a doctor, but a decent pay & at the very least health insurance should be given to these hard working Americans. Taking care of those in need should be an American topic taken seriously. Thank you