Speaker: Cynthia Fox
Please introduce yourself in a few short sentences.
Cynthia Fox: Hi, my name is Cindy. I am in Troy Ohio. I am 53 years old. I've been a quadriplegic for 31 years.
What waiver do you use to receive home and community based services?
Cynthia Fox: I'm on the Ohio Home Care waiver and I have both, um, independent providers and an agency.
What kinds of things do direct care workers help you with?
What is your life like when you have all of your care needs met?
Cynthia Fox: My day care workers get me, um, ready in the mornings with my bathing routine. They do range of motion. They get me dressed, they get in the wheelchair, they, uh, to meal prep, they feed me, help me with errands, doctor's appointments. They're basically my arms and legs.
How has the direct care workforce crisis impacted you?
Cynthia Fox: This crisis has affected me emotionally and physically. I worry when the next shoe is gonna drop, when one of my caregivers are gonna hurt themselves or, um, quit because it's not enough pay. It's too much work. I'm down to three caregivers now and they're all overworked and underpaid and the stress that we all feel is heavy every day and we're taking it out on each other and it just needs to change.
What do you think is needed to address the direct care workforce crisis?
Cynthia Fox: First thing is the Ohio Home Care Waiver Aids and nurses need to make more money. What they make now is ridiculous. Nobody wants to work for that. Secondly, they are their consumers, arms and legs. They make us independent when they come in the morning to get us up and ready, they get our day started so we can go to work and make money. Another um, thing that would help this crisis is to make, becoming an independent provider more um desirable, make the process more streamlined. So it's not a bunch of months and bunch of hurdles to go through to become an independent provider. Those are two of the main concerns. I think that would help.
