When you first glance at AB889  it seems like something you would want to support.  Positioned as a 'domestic workers bill of rights', it promises to provide basic workplace rights to in-home workers.  But you cannot protect workers who are hired directly by individuals, frequently underpaid, and often paid under the table.  AB889 will take the in home care industry underground, rendering domestic workers invisible, thereby more vulnerable to abuse.

If you look a little deeper, you see that AB889 makes two classes of already vulnerable citizens--seniors and domestic workers--more vulnerable to physical, financial, and emotional abuse.  The most recent changes to the legislation exempts everyone except the home care agencies.  Yet it is the home care agencies that keep seniors and caregivers the safest and most secure.  In fact, we hire caregivers out of abusive or potentially abusive situations.

AB889 is Bad for Seniors
Dedicated home care agencies protect seniors by pre-screening candidates, conducting background checks and medical screening, and taking on the employer liability.  And with day-to-day management, seniors are given better care, and have more flexibility in making sure that the caregiver that they are working with is the best person to care for them.

AB889 would force us to provide multiple caregivers per live-in client, making staying at home too cost prohibitive.  Far fewer seniors will be able to remain in their own home as they require care.  Also, imagine an older person living with Alzheimers having to have multiple shift changes every day.  That would make an already confusing situation more overwhelming.  

AB889 is Bad for Domestic Workers
Home care agencies pay a fair, dependable wage, cover workers compensation, provide training, and create a safe working environment for domestic workers.  If a caregiver is not being treated well, it is the home care agency that takes care of them.  If this bill passes, the home care industry will go underground, and domestic workers will provide care directly with no protection, no oversight, no one checking in to see how they are fairing.  Instead of preventing abuse, this creates a situation that is ripe for abuse.  

Please join us in opposing AB889.  Let your State Senators know that you want to keep seniors and domestic workers safe, secure, and well cared for.

Summer is time for fun in the sun; beach trips, barbecues, and ice cream.  And when you're caring for a senior, summer is also time to make sure you're keeping your loved one hydrated while they enjoy the warm weather.

Older adults tend to get dehydrated more easily and the impact of dehydration greater.  Many of our seniors are on multiple medications.  Dehydration can change the way a senior's body metabolizes medications putting them at greater risk for side effects.

For some, potential embarrassment due to incontinence keeps them from filling their lemonade glass.  Other seniors may have physical limitations like difficulty holding a glass, making them avoid an unpleasant situation.

Keeping your loved one hydrated may require small, clever ways to ensure that enough water is consumed.  Serve your senior plenty of fruits and vegetables, such as melons and jicama, with high water content.  Instead of a glass of plain water, consider getting some carbonated water, putting a slice of citrus or other fruit in to make it a little tastier and more festive.  Or, appeal to the child in them by keeping their freezers well stocked with popsicles, encouraging them to eat as many as they like.  

As with many things, the best cure is prevention.  With just a few small steps, you can ensure that your loved one is getting the fluids they need.  

If given a choice, the vast majority of seniors would rather spend their Golden Years in the comfort of their own homes.  Remaining at home has many benefits, including:

• Independence --   Allows seniors to keep their own schedules for activities, mealtimes, and bed times.  
  
• Familiarity --  Aging in your familiar surroundings can be comforting, as seniors know the layout of their homes, where they store things, and about how many steps it takes to get from their bed to their bathroom at night.  
• Friends and support communities --  Seniors have often lived in the same place for decades, and have developed many relationships over the course of that time.  Access to their church communities, bridge clubs, book clubs, or maintaining individual friendships can ensure that a senior continues to have a sense of belonging, maintaining and enhancing their quality of life.
• The care you need, when you need it --  In-home caregivers can provide the individualized attention and support that you need, whether for hourly care, for certain times of the day, or live-in.

As with most things, communication and planning is key.  Talk to your loved ones about their preferences before it becomes an emergency.  Knowing their desires up front can give all of you peace of mind.