Sharon Fields

Testimony- Budget Hearing

January 14th- Richmond, Virginia

Hello. My name is Sharon Fields. I have been a Certified Nursing Assistant for 35 years. I worked in a nursing home for 28 years and now I am a Personal Care Assistant in the home for the past 7 years.  I'm the one who takes care of your parents, your children- for 35 years I've cared for seniors and people with disabilities.

It's been many, many years since I have had health insurance.

After working in nursing homes and lifting patients for over 20 years I developed serious back problems. I have degenerative disks in my spine. I wanted to continue working, but I didn't have any health insurance to get treated.

I pay $500 a month for health insurance now, just to stay healthy and be able to work. I pay another $675 in rent. I make only $8.60 an hour and I tell you, my check sure does go fast.

I'm here today to beg you, plead you to please consider health insurance for Virginia's Personal Care Assistants. We do the important work of caring for your loved ones and we can't do it if we can't get care for ourselves.

I'm not the only one. You've seen many PCAs here today. We need to stay healthy and strong to do the best job possible and provide the best quality care. If we don't have health insurance- seniors and people with disabilities are at risk- at risk of having no one strong enough or healthy enough to care for them.

Please support budget amendments for a 10% reimbursement rate increase and for health insurance for Virginia's Personal Care Assistants.

Thank you.