LOOKING BACK ON 2013: A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

234f

Winter 2014

JOIN CAREGIVERS

to stop IHSS cutsPage 2

CHECK OUT exclusive member discounts Page 3

GET UPDATED on our recent victoriesPage 4

CONNECT

to our caregiver community atfacebook.com/UDW

4855 Seminole Drive San Diego, CA 92115800-621-5016

Check out our brand new website at www.udwa.org!

Together, we are the protectors of homecare in California. When politicians tried to cut hours by 20%, we stopped them. In the past, we also stopped them from eliminating pay for family and in-home caregivers and from slashing our pay to minimum wage.

Now Governor Jerry Brown wants to limit providers from working more than 40 hours a week – denying us the hard-won right to overtime pay. This would disrupt care for our clients and slash our income by as much as 43%. His budget also proposes a continuation of the 7% cut to IHSS hours.

Now more than ever, we need to work together to end cuts to IHSS and stop a 40 hour per week cap on caregiver hours.Photo: UDW caregivers spoke out against proposed cuts to IHSS at the State Capitol last month.

In this issue, you’ll learn more about our plans for improving the lives of caregivers in 2014. Let’s build on some of our successes from this past year:

• WefoughtforandwonraisesinseveralUDWcounties.• Westoppeda20%cuttoIHSS.• Wejoinedthousandsofhomecareproviders,clients,

and community allies at Disability Capitol Action Day to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the IHSS program.

• Weralliedforcomprehensiveimmigrationreform.• Wesawlegislativevictoriesforworkingpeople,including

an increase in the California state minimum wage, new protections for domestic workers, and overtime pay for caregivers.

• WeopenednewUDWofficesforcaregiversinSanDiegoand Santa Maria.

• Thousandsofcaregiversgotfreeandlow-costhealthcarethrough the Affordable Care Act.

• WehelpedopenCAIPTC,atrainingcenterforhomecareproviders that offers free and low-cost classes such as CPR,firstaidandfamilycaregiving.

• Wegaveback!FrommarchinginaVeteran’sDayparadeinMercedtofeedingfamiliesinRiverside,UDWcaregivers

participated in hundreds of events across the state to help our neighbors.

Of course, our work is far from done. As long as there are cuts to the IHSS program and caregivers are not paid a livingwage,wewillcontinuetofightforjustice.Togetherwe can build on our successes in 2013 to make 2014 even better for caregivers and our families.

— Editha Adams, Caregiver and UDW President

We Can Protect Homecare and Fair Pay

Brown budget contains hidden cut that will devastate our families and clients

Cuts hurt quality of life

“I take care of my wife, Marta, who is disabled due to Multiple Sclerosis. We’ve gone from living on very little to living on less than very little. Every hour that caregivers work has to do with quality of life. Every hour you take away reduces the quality of life for clients. And legislators tell clients they get to decide what gets cut but the question becomes: Do you want 7% fewer meals or 7% fewer showers or 7% fewer errands run? There is no waste or fat to cut out of this program; it’s all essential. You take those hours away and you take away life.”

— Richard Scheiber, Caregiver, El Dorado County

It’s about DIGNITY!Take action to protect homecareBy2030oneinfiveCalifornianswillbeover65.As our population ages, the need for in-home care will expand greatly. That’s why California should be investing in homecare, but instead Governor Jerry Brown is proposing cuts in 2014 that will devastate our families and clients:

• A40hourperweek(160permonth)limitonhomecare providers’ hours

• Acontinuationofthe7%cutonIHSShours

As caregivers for seniors and people with disabilities, we are the backbone and heart of the homecare workforce. Our work allows hundreds of thousands of Californians to live safely and comfortably in their own homes—where research shows that they live longer, more independent, andfulfillinglives.

That’s why we have launched a statewide campaign to protect homecare and dignity.

We’re hitting the streets and sharing our personal

stories with lawmakers and the community. And we can’t do it without you!

Go to our website at www.udwa.org to learn more and get involved.

“Returning your membership card won’t cost you anything more, and it means that we will be stronger to fight back together.”

— Elva Munoz, Caregiver and District Chair, Santa Barbara County

Even if you are already a member, renew your commitment to a strong homecare program today!

Protect IHSS for our future

“I have been a care provider for my older brother, who has high-risk diabetes, for the past four years. Since my brother lives with me, the wages I earn through IHSS often go right back into his day-to-day necessities, like special foods, hygiene products, and other items that he so desperately needs. When his hours and my wages go down, so does our standard of living.

Frommypointofview,homecareisvitaltokeepingourlovedonesaway from costly institutions. Each and every one of us providers must contribute to improving and expanding access to in-home care services for the sake of our own futures.”

— Wymon Johnson, Caregiver, Kern County

Limiting hours is bad medicine

“It’s going to hurt me a lot. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I work 7 days a week and 245 hours a month. If I was being paid how I should be I wouldn’t have to work somuch.Ican’tsurviveon160hours a month. I’ve been with some of my clients 4-5 years. I know their needs and they know me. It’s not easy to build that kind of relationship. We should all band togethertofightthis!We’reallinthe same boat.”

— Andrea Vidales, Caregiver, Merced County

Cuts are unfair to our clients

“I care for my 93-year-old mother who has dementia and late-stage Alzheimer’s. It’s not fair to clients or providers when they take hours away; it’s neglect. My momisentitledto260hourspermonthand I’m worried that if my hours get cut by the governor I won’t be able to pay my bills. It’s important that I provide most of my mom’s care because she gets upset and confused when other people are in

our apartment. I know that I take care of her better than anyone else could and if she goes into a home she will die.”

— Ninva Bebla, Caregiver, Stanislaus County

Give back to families

“Everybody knows the state has a surplus of money now; there is no reason to continue the cut to client hours anymore. They never should havemadecutsinthefirstplace.It is time now to stop the cuts and give those hours back to the clients of IHSS and the ability to earn wages back to those providers who have worked unpaid hours to give unsurpassed quality care. Give it backtothefamilieswhoneedit!”

— Jodie Frade, Caregiver, Merced County

JOIN US

Caregivers celebrate Vietnamese New Year

in Orange County!

Recently we took part in a really important celebration in the community: Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tết Nguyên Đán or Tết. In Orange County, the annual Tết Festival is the largest outside of Vietnam. We had a booth there to make sure members of the Vietnamese community know about California’s In-Home Supportive Services program (IHSS) and the important work we do as UDW homecare providers.

Cuts hurt quality of life

“I take care of my wife, Marta, who is disabled due to Multiple Sclerosis. We’ve gone from living on very little to living on less than very little. Every hour that caregivers work has to do with quality of life. Every hour you take away reduces the quality of life for clients. And legislators tell clients they get to decide what gets cut but the question becomes: Do you want 7% fewer meals or 7% fewer showers or 7% fewer errands run? There is no waste or fat to cut out of this program; it’s all essential. You take those hours away and you take away life.”

— Richard Scheiber, Caregiver, El Dorado County

It’s about DIGNITY!Take action to protect homecareBy2030oneinfiveCalifornianswillbeover65.As our population ages, the need for in-home care will expand greatly. That’s why California should be investing in homecare, but instead Governor Jerry Brown is proposing cuts in 2014 that will devastate our families and clients:

• A40hourperweek(160permonth)limitonhomecare providers’ hours

• Acontinuationofthe7%cutonIHSShours

As caregivers for seniors and people with disabilities, we are the backbone and heart of the homecare workforce. Our work allows hundreds of thousands of Californians to live safely and comfortably in their own homes—where research shows that they live longer, more independent, andfulfillinglives.

That’s why we have launched a statewide campaign to protect homecare and dignity.

We’re hitting the streets and sharing our personal

stories with lawmakers and the community. And we can’t do it without you!

Go to our website at www.udwa.org to learn more and get involved.

“Returning your membership card won’t cost you anything more, and it means that we will be stronger to fight back together.”

— Elva Munoz, Caregiver and District Chair, Santa Barbara County

Even if you are already a member, renew your commitment to a strong homecare program today!

Protect IHSS for our future

“I have been a care provider for my older brother, who has high-risk diabetes, for the past four years. Since my brother lives with me, the wages I earn through IHSS often go right back into his day-to-day necessities, like special foods, hygiene products, and other items that he so desperately needs. When his hours and my wages go down, so does our standard of living.

Frommypointofview,homecareisvitaltokeepingourlovedonesaway from costly institutions. Each and every one of us providers must contribute to improving and expanding access to in-home care services for the sake of our own futures.”

— Wymon Johnson, Caregiver, Kern County

Limiting hours is bad medicine

“It’s going to hurt me a lot. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I work 7 days a week and 245 hours a month. If I was being paid how I should be I wouldn’t have to work somuch.Ican’tsurviveon160hours a month. I’ve been with some of my clients 4-5 years. I know their needs and they know me. It’s not easy to build that kind of relationship. We should all band togethertofightthis!We’reallinthe same boat.”

— Andrea Vidales, Caregiver, Merced County

Cuts are unfair to our clients

“I care for my 93-year-old mother who has dementia and late-stage Alzheimer’s. It’s not fair to clients or providers when they take hours away; it’s neglect. My momisentitledto260hourspermonthand I’m worried that if my hours get cut by the governor I won’t be able to pay my bills. It’s important that I provide most of my mom’s care because she gets upset and confused when other people are in

our apartment. I know that I take care of her better than anyone else could and if she goes into a home she will die.”

— Ninva Bebla, Caregiver, Stanislaus County

Give back to families

“Everybody knows the state has a surplus of money now; there is no reason to continue the cut to client hours anymore. They never should havemadecutsinthefirstplace.It is time now to stop the cuts and give those hours back to the clients of IHSS and the ability to earn wages back to those providers who have worked unpaid hours to give unsurpassed quality care. Give it backtothefamilieswhoneedit!”

— Jodie Frade, Caregiver, Merced County

JOIN US

Caregivers celebrate Vietnamese New Year

in Orange County!

Recently we took part in a really important celebration in the community: Vietnamese New Year, also known as Tết Nguyên Đán or Tết. In Orange County, the annual Tết Festival is the largest outside of Vietnam. We had a booth there to make sure members of the Vietnamese community know about California’s In-Home Supportive Services program (IHSS) and the important work we do as UDW homecare providers.

LOOKING BACK ON 2013: A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

234f

Winter 2014

JOIN CAREGIVERS

to stop IHSS cutsPage 2

CHECK OUT exclusive member discounts Page 3

GET UPDATED on our recent victoriesPage 4

CONNECT

to our caregiver community atfacebook.com/UDW

4855 Seminole Drive San Diego, CA 92115800-621-5016

Check out our brand new website at www.udwa.org!

Together, we are the protectors of homecare in California. When politicians tried to cut hours by 20%, we stopped them. In the past, we also stopped them from eliminating pay for family and in-home caregivers and from slashing our pay to minimum wage.

Now Governor Jerry Brown wants to limit providers from working more than 40 hours a week – denying us the hard-won right to overtime pay. This would disrupt care for our clients and slash our income by as much as 43%. His budget also proposes a continuation of the 7% cut to IHSS hours.

Now more than ever, we need to work together to end cuts to IHSS and stop a 40 hour per week cap on caregiver hours.Photo: UDW caregivers spoke out against proposed cuts to IHSS at the State Capitol last month.

In this issue, you’ll learn more about our plans for improving the lives of caregivers in 2014. Let’s build on some of our successes from this past year:

• WefoughtforandwonraisesinseveralUDWcounties.• Westoppeda20%cuttoIHSS.• Wejoinedthousandsofhomecareproviders,clients,

and community allies at Disability Capitol Action Day to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the IHSS program.

• Weralliedforcomprehensiveimmigrationreform.• Wesawlegislativevictoriesforworkingpeople,including

an increase in the California state minimum wage, new protections for domestic workers, and overtime pay for caregivers.

• WeopenednewUDWofficesforcaregiversinSanDiegoand Santa Maria.

• Thousandsofcaregiversgotfreeandlow-costhealthcarethrough the Affordable Care Act.

• WehelpedopenCAIPTC,atrainingcenterforhomecareproviders that offers free and low-cost classes such as CPR,firstaidandfamilycaregiving.

• Wegaveback!FrommarchinginaVeteran’sDayparadeinMercedtofeedingfamiliesinRiverside,UDWcaregivers

participated in hundreds of events across the state to help our neighbors.

Of course, our work is far from done. As long as there are cuts to the IHSS program and caregivers are not paid a livingwage,wewillcontinuetofightforjustice.Togetherwe can build on our successes in 2013 to make 2014 even better for caregivers and our families.

— Editha Adams, Caregiver and UDW President

We Can Protect Homecare and Fair Pay

Brown budget contains hidden cut that will devastate our families and clients