State
Representative Don Moffitt worked alongside Galesburg home care aide Phyllis Clifford on Monday, assisting her consumer with day-to-day activities and chores and getting
a firsthand look at a form of critical care in Illinois that is in
jeopardy because of the state's $12.4 billion budget crisis and threatened cuts.
“Home care allows tens of thousands of seniors and people with
disabilities across the state to stay in their homes, near loved ones
and out of more costly facilities,” said Galesburg home care worker
Phyllis Clifford, who spent the morning showing Rep. Moffitt the type
of daily care and assistance she provides for the 5 seniors and people
with disabilities she cares for through the state’s home care program.
“Slashing funding for home care will have drastic consequences for
those who rely on it now, and for the baby boomers and people with
disabilities who will need care in the future.”
Don Moffitt rolled up his sleeves Monday morning.
The state representative did Sandra Cooley’s dishes. Then the man
who represents Illinois 74th District worked the vacuum cleaner on the
carpets inside Cooley’s one-bedroom apartment on the eighth floor of
Mary Allen West Towers.
Moffitt hasn’t joined the ranks of the recently unemployed. He was
working to prove a point. He spent a portion of the morning and early
afternoon “walking in the shoes” of home care worker Phyllis Clifford,
as part of the Service Employees International Union’s effort to
highlight what possible state budget cuts would mean to those who need
home health care workers and those who provide the services.
…
“I want to continue to make the case that home health care is more
cost effective in the long run,” Moffitt said before Clifford put him
to work in Cooley’s apartment. “The budget is tight and we are
scrambling for dollars.
“But home care dollars are some of the most cost-effective dollars
we spend. It’s important to help people stay in their homes. And home
care offers employment. It doesn’t pay a lot, but dedicated people are
willing to do these jobs.”
…
Clifford, who grew up in Victoria, has worked in home health care
for nine years. She has been a member of the SEIU since 2001 and serves
on its executive board.
The 53-year-old works for Addus Healthcare, Inc., a private company
that provides state-funded home care services. Clifford has been with
the company since September of last year and makes $8.55 and hour. She
said she “will be getting” health care benefits through the company.
“I’m not getting rich doing this,” Clifford admitted. “But it is a job I enjoy doing. It fits me and I like helping people.”
And Clifford is committed to helping people stay in their own homes as they deal with age, illness and disabilities.
“I took care of my grandmother, who had Alzheimer’s disease,”
Clifford said. “I watched my mom die in an institution and my husband
die in an institution. I wanted to help people who want — and can —
stay in their homes with some help.”
Clifford’s typical work day starts at 7:15 a.m. and she sees her
last client at 5:30 p.m. She typically stays with Cooley for three to
three-and-half hours every Monday through Friday. The two have been
together for a few months.
“I clean and do Sandra (Cooley’s) errands,” Clifford said. “I pick
up her meds and help her around the house. I help her shower and try to
do everything I can to make sure she can live on her own.”
Cooley can’t live alone without help — physical and financial. She
lives on $850-a-month disability payments. She receives no food stamps,
pays $190 a month for rent and pays her own utilities. She is 53, has
two ruptured disks in her back, degenerative bones in her knees and
suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Phyllis (Clifford) helps me with everything,” Cooley said. “Phyllis
and I get along together. It’s important for people to bond with their
home care person.”
Moffitt feels the bond between a client and home care worker should not be overlooked.
“It is important for the people to get consistent care,” he said.
“You keep people together and you get better care. You prevent
turnover, which creates better jobs and better job performance. Above
all, the client has someone they can trust.”
Cooley put it another way.
“I live in a big building with lots of people, but even my friends
here can’t look out for me — and that’s not their fault,” she said.
“With a home care worker, I know someone will be here five days a week.
“I have some one who knows about me and can check on me. It just helps me feel like someone is there for me.”