As many of you know, I am a home care CNA who recently got a diploma
and a subsequent certification to be a health unit coordinator. With
approximately 150 or so applications since about April 20, I am no
closer to doing the medical office work as I was a year ago. Because
one of the courses was to learn everything about Microsoft Office 2010, I
am, actually just as qualified to be professional in any legal setting,
including lawyer's offices, City/County offices, legislators' offices,
and more. You also know that I am a child advocate who is combating
child abuse and even has my own cause to help boost the importance of
this cause.
It dawned on me just a short time ago,
that I'm actually better at advocating for underdogs than I am as a job
applicant. This doesn't mean that I am not a good job seeker. I have
been vigilant and considering multiple options, and not limiting myself
to just a few places. I've even been bold enough to apply for education
positions with literacy programs, since some parts of my job includes
patient education, and that is one of my more favorite parts of my
current job. I'm even having better interviews, with each one, even if
they are few and far between... It just seems as if once I've had the
initial interview, I haven't been able to even go toward another
position without having that generalized letter about going with other
candidates who better fits their needs after considering my
application. I really don't get it. On the other hand, when I step up
and contact those in charge about advocating for the greater good, I
always get a result... Even if it's not what I intended, it is still,
indeed a result, and it does make some ripples to affect others to act,
and some good has come out of it, even if it is in small increments.
So,
anyway, as a home care worker at a nonprofit company, the pay isn't the
greatest, though it's better than some of these other home care
agencies. I haven't had a raise since 2006, yet there are other
agencies that start their aides at lower starting pay, yet charge their
clients higher. Plus, the agency I work for provides for medicare
patients as well as those who get the VA benefits. It's a mission I
believe in, to help those who need it most, and it started off as an
agency run by disabled people for disabled people. It's the belief that
even those who are not able bodied are still able to provide a service
or something to the community, thus being an asset to the society. It's
a good mission. If it were just about pay, I'd be somewhere else.
But, because much of our pay is dependent on medicaid payouts, if they
don't increase their rate, we don't get a raise. It has nothing to do
with the fact that some of us literally go above and beyond the call of
duty. Some of the tasks, sure, can be learned by just about anybody.
But, it takes some skill and finesse to be a quality care giver. The
bad part is, we don't really get paid much more than a fast food worker
who knows exactly how to put the pickles on your sandwich. Because this
job is one of those that does take some skill, such as practicing
proper body mechanics to transfer patients, and because you can't
predict their movements, it has the highest risk of back and other
bodily injury that his second to none, even railroad workers,
construction, etc... Mostly because you can pretty much predict how
that bundle of roofing tiles is going to behave. If it starts to slip,
you can let go to save your self. But you cannot do that with another
person, unless you're willing to be sued up the wazoo. Yet, miners and
construction workers get paid enough to support a family, even if you
have to live modestly. But, a home care aide is still in poverty as a
single person, and you need to go into a hospital or nursing home for
better pay. I can handle the hospital, because many who come in are for
surgery and other stuff, where they are usually healthy enough for what
ever procedure they are going to get. It is the ER, ICU, and certain
cardiopulmonary floors where you get the most frail (health wise)
people.
Here is the kicker. Certain nursing homes that
also take the medicaid or VA benefit have enough to pay their CNA's
better. Most hospitals also take medicaid and can pay their CNA's
better. Granted, they are doing a lot of good, especially those whose
health is declining, or in need of therapy, and the aides run around
busy all day. Unfortunately, many nursing homes are understaffed,
making it difficult for some of us to keep up with. Thing is, when you
figure that these facilities are staffing CNAs, CMAs, RNs, LPNs,
doctors, receptionists, appointment setters, and many people behind the
scenes to keep your medical information in order and confidential,
etc... plus the cost of the building, maintenance, electric bill,
etc... and these are paid 24/7 - that is a LOT of money that is being
paid by various tax payer monies. I'm not complaining, we NEED to take
care of people, and all of us should be fortunate enough to be able to
get quality care, because being poor or disabled shouldn't disqualify
you to get the help you need. But, here again, home care aides work one
on one, and are slotted for a variety of increments of time, anywhere
from a half hour to 24 hour standby care, if you need it. But, since
the patients pay their own rent/mortgage/taxes, utility bills, water
bills, food, etc... and only pay for the services they use, the cost
upon medicaid is much lower, so that the overall cost is only a couple
hundred dollars a month, as opposed to several thousands and more in a
care facility. So, the thanks we get, is lower pay, for saving everyone
else money? Thing is, depending on the situation, if we are at
someone's home as an aide, and we get injured and can't help ourselves,
if the patient we take care of is unable to use the phone, there is no
one there to help us.
*sigh* I understand that I am
rambling, but, it's all for a point. I have spoken to people, and went
up the food chain, to speak to someone about the fact that we deserve
more pay, and the best way to get that done is to contact our
legislators. So.... I guess it's a good thing that I have experience
in this type of advocacy, because speaking to our legislators is what I
do best, often with at least a little bit of light in the future, even
if it's just a small, dim light. More work for me, and hope that I can
at least get a little pay dirt.
Another thing to kind
of go with it... Often, with child abuse, it escalates when there are
life stresses like lack of money/jobs, which of course ripples onto the
fact that without money, we can't pay our electric bills, buy enough
nutritious foods, etc... or whether or not to fix the car, which may end
up meaning an extra long day taking public transport (which around
here, isn't that great of service), and the various stress gets taken
out on spouses and children. Many single mothers are also home care
givers, so they can put their work schedules to accommodate their
children's school hours, appointments, and more.
So...
Please. For the love of thunderstorms. Please contact your legislator
today, to let them know that home care aides, especially those of us
who work with the poor, are getting fair pay, that good care givers
deserve it. Some day we will all be old, and need someone to take care
of us. We all deserve quality care, and if you get what you pay for,
wouldn't you want a care giver who is happy with their post? Better
paid servants also have lower risk to abuse their children and spouses.
Raise the medicaid reimbursements today!
Here is the
contact info for some Wisconsin legislators. Please click the link in
the place where it has the legislature list, to find your federal people
as well. I think it's high time that we start appreciating our good
people who risk our own bodies to injury to care for our frailest and
meekest citizens, by giving us a better pay rate. Your parents and
grandparents will appreciate it, and we will, too, when we're at the age
to need home helpers like me.
Governor Scott Walker Lieutenant Governor RebeccaKleefish
Office of Governor Scott Walker 19 East, State Capitol
115 East Capitol P.O. Box 2043
Madison, WI 53702 Madison, WI 53702
(608) 266-1212 (608) 266-3516
govgeneral@wisconsin.gov ltgov@wisconsin.gov
Representative Peter Barca (Kenosha) RepresentativeCory Mason (Racine)
Room 201 West Room6 North
State Capitol State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952 P.O.Box S8953
Madison, WI 53708 Madison,WI 53708
(608) 266-5504 (608)266-0634
(888) 534-0064 (888)534-0066
Rep.Barca@legis.wisconsin.gov Rep.Mason@legis.wisconsin.gov
Representative Tod Ohnstad (Kenosha) RepresentativeRobin Vos (Racine Cty)
Room 420 North Room211 West
State Capitol StateCapitol
P.O. Box 8953 P.O.Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708 Madison,WI 53708
(608) 266-0455 (608)266-9171
(888) 534-0065 (888)534-0063
Rep.Ohnstad@legis.wisconsin.gov Rep.Vos@legis.wisconsin.gov
Senator John Lehman (Racine) RepTom Weatherson (Racine)
Room 5 South Room109 West
State Capitol State Capitol
P.O. Box 7882 POBox 8953
Madison, WI 53703-7882 Madison,WI 53708
(608) 266-1832 (608)266-0731
Sen.Lehman@legis.wisconsin.gov (888)534-0062
Rep.Weatherston@legis.wisconsin.gov
Senator Bob Wirch
Room 127 South To find out whois your senator/representative to the state -
State Capitol http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2013/legislators/assembly
P.O. Box 7882 The Hotline can be reached at:
Madison, WI 53707-7882 Local Madison Number: 608 266-9960
(608) 267-8979 StatewideToll-Free: 800-362-9472
Sen.Wirch@legis.wisconsin.gov HearingImpaired: 800-228-2115
US Senator Tammy Baldwin US Senator Ron Johnson
717 Hart SenateOffice Building 328 Hart Senate OfficeBuilding
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-5653 (202)224-5323
http://www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact http://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-senator
US Representative Paul Ryan
Washington, DC office
1233 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3031
Ask any person who utilizes a home care agency how they like their helpers... ;)
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