fbpx

The Lack of Personal Care Workers in Today’s Economy

June 13, 2022
Category: ,

The Lack of Personal Care Workers in Today’s Economy

In the article How I Find, Hire and Keep a Great Care Attendant, I walk through options for finding a good—hopefully great—personal care attendant or caregiver. The problem: these tips aren’t working in our present economy. I’m finding a lack of personal care attendants.

I’ve done everything I recommended in the above article. I’ve offered $20 per hour. I’ve contacted over 80 people on Care.com. Posted on Facebook and Nextdoor. I’ve received a few messages and phone calls and set up a time to meet, only for the person to back out.

On Friday, I spoke with a woman who was interested in working with me. After we talked on the phone, I emailed her an application, a list of responsibilities (for clarity), and a background check. I wrote: “I’ll see you on Sunday at 7.30. If you don’t think it’ll work out, please let me know.” I followed up with a text message on Saturday. “Hey! Just wanted to check if you still plan to come tomorrow morning.”

Then I texted my friend: “Shall we start taking bets?”

I should’ve wagered a bunch of money.

No call. No show. 

An emotional roller coaster

This cycle of finding a possible applicant—a lifeline—is an emotional roller coaster. One moment I’m elated at the expectation of finding a new caregiver. But the next day, my hopes are dashed, and I must continue the search, disheartened and cynical that I’ll ever find help.

After six months of this, I’m tired. Emotionally. Physically. Mentally.

I’m fortunate

But I’m so incredibly fortunate. I only need assistance three mornings a week. Well, that’s not quite true. I’m surviving. But to function at a full capacity for work, I need more help. I’d prefer to take a shower three times a week, and have help around the house on those days. Thankfully, I can transfer by myself.  I manage my bowel program on my own due to the surgery I had in 2018.

Other people’s lives are completely dependent on the assistance of people providing personal care. It’s a dire situation.

Agencies aren’t an option for me

I’ve been desperate enough to reach out to agencies. The average cost was more than $30 per hour with a 4-hour minimum. No, private health insurance doesn’t cover personal care. I don’t qualify for state or federal services because I work, and my state is one of 7 in the US without a Medicaid buy-in program. This expenses is out-of-pocket for me. (Read How Society Punishes People with Disabilities for Working for my tirade on that issue.)

So, I continue with one shower per week and a mid-week hair wash. I’m surviving.

What can we do in the meantime?

I don’t have any answers. If I did, I’d have employed a caregiver six months ago. What I can offer are a few tips to get by until you find a personal care attendant.  

Tips:

  • Network. Talk with others with disabilities and see if they have a PCA who wants additional hours or knows of someone who does. The problem is, we all need help in the mornings, so this isn’t a great option.
  • Keep at it. Repeatedly put the news out there on social media. Believe me, social media is NOT where I want to announce this. But my friends and family care for me and are willing to spread the word. They might have a friend who has a friend…
  • Accept help. What’s kept me going? Humility in accepting help from people I don’t pay. I contacted a former PCA-turned-friend, and she’s coming on Sundays (after working a 40-hour week at her current job). A friend of a friend is coming Wednesday mornings to help me wash my hair in the kitchen sink.
  • Shortcuts: The above example is another tip: find a shortcut that will get you through. I can live without a shower; I can’t handle dirty hair.) A person doesn’t need much talent to wash my hair in the sink, nor does it involve physically demanding work. But I had to accept the help of a stranger who was willing to volunteer. 
  • Spread the love. I try not to ask the same person over and over. If I ask a neighbor for help one week with something around the house, then the following week I’ll ask a different person. I don’t want to burn bridges or make anyone feel they are “responsible” for me. I don’t want to be more of a burden than I already feel like I am.
  • Find Facebook groups where you can post to job seekers. Nurses in the 502 (my area code) is a group for CNAs, LPNs, and nurses, and allows people to post job announcements. (In the search feature on Facebook, type in “Nurses in the [your area code]” for a local group.) I recently found a Facebook group for people searching for caregivers through a state Medicaid Waiver program. I messaged the administrator to see if I could post a job description, and she agreed.

If you have tips for finding a reliable caregiver or tips for surviving the times when you’re without one, contact me here. We can learn from each other’s experiences, and share our years of wisdom.

Share
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

A gifted athlete. An unthinkable accident. Will a wheelchair crush her adventurous spirit?

More to explore

Picture of Jenny Smith

Jenny Smith

After a spinal cord injury at 16, I discovered that a wheelchair could take me places I never dared to imagined.

Follow Me

Videos

Get The Latest Updates

Don't Miss A Post!

Sign up to receive an email when I post new content.

 

DON'T MISS A POST!

Get notified when I post new content by signing up below. You can also help me reach my goal of 1000 subscribers by subscribing to my YouTube channel. Subscribing to YouTube is easy just click the YouTube icon.