Jeanie Carter

Testimony for Jan. 3 Budget Hearing

Hello, my name is Jeanie Carter and I have been a caregiver all my life, ever since I was 12 years old. Once I was old enough to work, I worked as a Personal Care Assistant, helping seniors and people with disabilities get the assistance they need to live at home and in the community.  I paid my way through college working as a Personal Care Assistants.

Currently, I assist two consumers, helping them get up in the mornings, get dressed, and live independently. I also work at a group home for adults with disabilities, preparing meals for the people who live there. I work every day, including Christmas and New Year's.

I love the work that I do. I love that I fulfill a niche in the lives of the people I assist. I love that I can help them achieve what they want to do with their lives. And I love that, over time, I have become like family to them.

I love the work that I do. But I need some help. PCAs deserve real wage increases so that we can continue to pay our bills and can afford to live in this area.

PCAs like myself also deserve sick days and vacation days. Right now, if I don't work, I don't get paid. Everyone needs a day off from time-to-time. Myself included.

Because of the low wages and the lack of any benefits, there is a very high turnover rate among PCAs like myself. In order to have enough quality PCAs to assist all our seniors and people with disabilities who want to live at home, we need the General Assembly to raise the wages and provide benefits.

Because home care is less expensive than nursing home care, PCAs like myself help the state save millions of dollars. In order to continue doing that, we need your help.

That's why I'm here today to ask you all to support an increase in the personal care reimbursement rate during this General Assembly session. And I'm here to ask you all to support providing healthcare for home care workers.

Thank you