Pennsylvania home care workers and their advocates hold these truths to be self-evident: That all seniors and people with disabilities — and the caregivers who support them– deserve the same opportunities to pursue life, liberty, and happiness as anyone else.
For caregivers who are part of United Home Care Workers of Pennsylvania, this means re-balancing the state’s system from one centered on nursing homes to one centered on people’s homes. It means making sure that home care is a job the caregivers can afford to keep.
To raise awareness of the need for quality home care in Pennsylvania, several dozen in-home caregivers, consumers, and advocates have embarked on a month-long tour of the state they’re referring to as the “Independence Ride”. On day five of the trip, the Independence Riders stopped in Erie, PA for a rally to advocate for the respect and dignity they feel home care workers deserve–but aren’t currently getting. They also don’t receive health insurance benefits, despite being caregivers themselves.
“The people we continue to hire were unable to stay with us,” home care worker Daniel Curcio told WJET-TV 24 at the Erie rally. “They all quit because the pay was so low, there was no vacation, no reimbursements, no incentives to want to stay.” Along with dignity and respect, home care workers and supporters are fighting for paid leave and living wages and benefits.
Watch video from the launch of the Independence Ride at Pennsylvania’s Capitol:
Watch YourErie.com’s video coverage of the Independence Ride’s stop in Erie, PA on Saturday here.
Follow the campaign on Facebook at http://seiu.me/fbhomecare.