Two recent Come Care With Me Days in Pennsylvania garnered media attention in the state.
Representative Mark Longietti
Representative Mark Longietti of Mercer County shadowed direct-care worker Debbie Smith in a group home setting which houses four individuals with mental retardation and additional health complications. In talking about the importance of direct-care workers, Longietti said, “We need them to be here to work and take care of you, and they need to have health care so that they can do this job.”
The ARC of Mercer County which employs the workers is facing the tough decision that many small businesses face when it comes to health care. Right now they are trying to decide whether to raise the employee’s co-pays or eliminate family coverage in order to cover the rising costs. They anticipate that the move will drastically decrease their ability to recruit and retain workers.
The event with Longietti was covered by local television station WKBN:
Senator Jay Costa
In another part of the state, Senator Jay Costa shadowed direct-care worker Mozella Langston in a consumer’s home in Pittsburgh.
The consumer, Mrs. Vidmar, suffers from diabetes, a hip fracture and coronary artery disease. Langston, like many other home care workers, does not have health insurance. Though her employer, ResCare offers a health plan, Langston’s low wages prevent her from enrolling.
ResCare, Inc. Branch Manager, Nikki Falavolito says this is typical of many of their aides to be in this situation. In fact, only two employees out of 60 have enrolled in the employer sponsored insurance. ResCare Home Care offers personalized services for seniors and individuals with disabilities like Mrs. Vidmar. ResCare provides professional nursing, personal care and support, homemaking, respite, and many other services in the home, hospital, and long term care facilities.
Senator Costa helped Mozella with a number of chores including making a sandwich for Mrs. Vidmar. The day was covered by the Valley Mirror.
The PA HCHCW campaign continues to work with policy makers on solutions to this growing problem.
Allison Lee
National Campaign Manager
HCHCW
alee@phinational.org





A testimonial by Eunice Spooner, a home care consumer in Sidney, Maine:

A testimonial by Brenda N., a hospice nurse aide in Pennsylvania:
A testimonial by Cheryl D., a home care consumer in Pennsylvania:
A testimonial by Lori M., a home care agency executive director from Pennsylvania:
A testimonial by Joan D., a home care agency owner in Maine:
A testimonial from Tina, a home care worker in Maine:
I am a certified nurse aide who has worked in several different nursing homes. In 2004, I had health insurance coverage for six months, which covered my three girls and me. It cost $174 per pay period, but this became too expensive for me. After rent and all of the other basic household expenses I wasn’t making ends meet. So I dropped the health insurance.
A testimonial from Karen B., a home care agency manager in Michigan:
A testimonial from Eric T., a home care consumer in Michigan:
The following testimony was given by certified nursing assistant Cindy R. at a press conference held at the Iowa state capitol. She added the postscript ten months later, after her husband passed away.