Fresno County caregivers deliver critical services, but are paid a pittance | Opinion

Two years removed from one of the most crushing global pandemics in history, Fresno County faces a new health crisis that demands the immediate attention of our elected representatives.

Fresno County’s caregivers and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers are facing increasing pressure to deliver for their patients – our elderly men and women and disabled population – while being paid a pittance to do critical and difficult work.

These workers selflessly provide round-the-clock assistance to the most vulnerable individuals in our society. Their work saves lives and allows seniors to live independently in their own homes.

Opinion

Today, Fresno County caregivers only earn $16.60 per hour serving our senior citizens. A living wage for a single person is $22.38 per hour or $37.62 if they have a single child.

Now, consider this: the minimum wage for a fast food worker is $20 per hour, nearly $4 more per hour than the people tasked with properly medicating, bathing, feeding and caring for our most vulnerable population.

If pay is a reflection of our priorities in a profession, these wages are not only not commensurate with the level of service, they are an insult to our caregivers.

Today, our caregivers are sacrificing more and more to support our elderly only to be paid less and less than other, arguably less critical industries.

According to a recent survey, Fresno County caregivers are more likely to be unable to access their own prescription medication because they cannot afford it. They also are vulnerable to falling below the poverty line.

It is deeply troubling and sad that more than 80% of IHSS providers in Fresno County work multiple jobs to make ends meet. This shows that their salaries are not enough to pay for basic necessities, let alone improve their lives.

Additionally, more than 42% of these caregivers face constant food insecurity, with most relying on food banks and CalFresh to survive.

We need to consider the broader impact that these problems will have on the community.

An unaffordable and undervalued caregiving workforce will lead to a lack of providers and care.

This scenario is already happening in Fresno County, with over 626,000 authorized care hours going unused last year, despite the demand for elderly and disabled care rising daily.

Unless we make these jobs better-paying, more workers will continue to leave the sector, causing a crisis that will directly impact our senior citizens.

We’re already at the doorstop of an exodus of caregivers in

Fresno County, with one-in-five caregivers reporting that they’re considering leaving their current position to find a more lucrative opportunity outside of the industry.

Our caregivers, who are predominantly women of color, have dedicated themselves to providing essential care to the elderly and disabled populations.

Now it’s time to ensure that their work is valued, respected, and paid fairly. It’s our duty to support them by providing livable wages, healthcare benefits, and other essential workplace rights and benefits to allow them to care for themselves and their families better.

We need to prioritize this issue, not only for the welfare of caregivers but also for the vulnerable individuals they serve.

Our caregivers have cried for help from Fresno County leaders. Sadly, their pleas have gone unanswered. We will ALL at one point in our lives need this type care in our golden years, waiting to solve this crisis will surely cost lives. The people that our most vulnerable residents depend on, are depending on us, we need action now!

Fresno Councilmember Luis Chávez represents District 5, and is a member of the Fresno Madera Agency on Aging Board.

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