Low pay and no benefits — why be a caregiver?

NM’s elderly, disabled will suffer as employees switch careers for a better livelihood

I can’t tell you how many employers … have called the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition because they can’t find enough caregivers to fill the direct care staff openings. My staff and I receive multiple calls daily asking for help in recruiting caregivers for them. This fact will be no surprise to any person who has required a home care worker at any time in the past 18 months.

It should also be no surprise that … caregivers may already have permanently left the direct care field en masse, not just for higher-paying jobs, but also for better quality jobs. I’ve talked with New Mexico caregivers and to employers across various industry sectors; both tell me low-wage workers have used the opportunity of the pandemic to train for jobs outside the home care field so they can leave their current job.

A caregiver with children told me (recently) she has permanently left her home care worker job because child care is more expensive than the $10 per hour she earned. And she accrued no fringe benefits. In Bernalillo, where our organization is based, the nearest McDonald’s franchise advertises starting pay at $11 per hour, vacation and sick leave, full paid fouryear college tuition, and access to such discounts as moving vans and rental cars to move one’s family to Bernalillo. I, too, would take that job over one paying $10 per hour with no benefits.

But isn’t this the same conundrum we in the workforce development field were talking about more than 10 years ago? Indeed, more than 30 years ago? The Bureau of Labor Statistics documents the average wage of a New Mexico home care worker was $10.90 in 2009; in 2019, it was $10.92.

In New Mexico, 83% of caregivers are women, 82% are people of color and 64% of all caregivers live at the poverty level. These statistics describe the people who are working.

A young man who works as direct support for a person with a developmental disability told me, “I work 10 hours a day, five days a week, and I’m still poor!” And the work is grueling. It is physically demanding, it involves lifting and transferring clients, and even negotiating with family members who may or may not support that worker’s presence in the home.

Amazon, Facebook, and even Walmart in New Mexico are offering $15 per hour and higher. And if those jobs aren’t attractive enough, why not re-train as a truck driver to earn $25 per hour starting pay? Lately, I find I have to refrain from encouraging caregivers and direct support staff to leave the field and retrain in new skills for better-quality jobs.

Caregivers themselves seem to be making rational decisions to leave the field altogether.

Our organization shouldn’t be advocating for caregivers to stay in this field. We should be advocating for them to move to better-paying jobs with paid time off and health insurance, and insistence on respect and recognition from employers that value them. Advocates and supporters of caregivers ought to help push them toward those better jobs.

U.S. Department of Labor workforce data projects New Mexico will have to fill 75,500 new positions in home care and direct support by the year 2026. The present crisis means those who will suffer most will be the elderly and those with disabilities who need their care.

Thank you to the fellow KAYAKER who graciously pulled me from the muddy sand bar in Cochiti Lake. You are appreciated and (I) will pay it forward. MK

How can you form a NEIGHBORHOOD watch when you are afraid of your neighbors? Also, isn’t this just another way to get volunteers to do the work of a police department that you want defunded? RJB

The SODA TAX is just the latest in the long history of “sin taxes” in this country. DB

From Obama to city mayors, a gaggle of U.S. “representatives” went to the climate conference in GLASGOW. Just how much aircraft and ground transport fuel was expended to discuss how to save the world? JEH

Editorial and article Nov. 9 re: TOPGOLF. Anyone make a connection why the proposed stadium vote was defeated? LLM

Please tell me why we are even thinking of relinquishing responsibility of our power grid to a foreign country, namely Spain, through IBERDROLA? That’s even worse than what occurred in Texas where members in control of deciding on the power grid were out of state. EN

The level of social and political discourse in this country has hit a new low that I didn’t think possible. The right’s use of the euphemistic, anti-Biden phrase, “LET’S GO BRANDON” that it thinks is so clever is vile, vile beyond description. They ought to be ashamed. EJG

Parents, stand up for your children now. NMPED is racializing our children’s SOCIAL STUDIES curricula. Focusing on a child’s race creates confusion, anger and divisiveness instead of harmony in the classroom. TMP

Please do not fall for the glossed over version of CRT by the lieutenant governor of N.M. It is not the truth. CRT is racist and demeaning to children. Just check out the states with it, such as New Hampshire, Virginia, California and others. Attention parents. Reject this now. CP

I noticed a man filling his backpack with cold drinks at the front of a store before walking out. The cashier says thefts are increasing, THIEVES can’t be confronted and police can’t help. Wrong actions deserve consequences. Our city is starting to resemble San Francisco by tolerating unchecked criminal activity. KJ

President Biden plans to give thousands to (undocumented) IMMIGRANTS separated from their children. What about all the military children who were separated from parents who served the U.S. military? These families suffered separations fearing death and worrying about loves ones. The children received nothing. Why award (undocumented immigrants)? KC

Biden spends millions putting UNDOCUMENTED non-citizens into nice hotels while American veterans live on the streets. Then, Biden wants to pay those invading our country $450,000

each, while a service member killed in the line of duty gets only $400,000 if they paid the premiums. America last. LJB

$450,000 to each (UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT) who was separated from a child at the border, 5,500 cases, total: $2.5 billion. What further proof do we need the inmates are running the prison? AG

So the INFRASTRUCTURE is $1.2T and N.M. gets $2.7B and our representatives are touting this as a win for the state. But, on a population basis, N.M. should receive around $7B. … How is

this a win? DC

(House Speaker Brian) Egolf, it is good to know that all of N.M. issues are resolved and you can turn your attention to UNM TICKET pricing. My wife and I are season ticket holders and attend every home game. Do you support the Lobos or just enjoy mouthing off? DKL

“I realize Brian EGOLF is only an attorney, but surely he has had Economics 101. Attendance at women’s basketball is an elastic phenomenon. As prices rise, attendance falls more than a simple 1:1. It probably falls by -2, and thus cuts demand more significantly. Wake up to the real world. CL

The (Nov. 10) article on the shooting and verdict of (the man who killed) UNM baseball player (Jackson) Weller omitted the name of the judges who let (Darian) BASHIR out of jail after two previous shootings. … We should all be concerned by this. KG

Contrary to today’s trendy thinking, the Albuquerque CRIME PROBLEM is not guns, which we’ve always had in abundance. What is new is that violent arrestees no longer have to post bail in order to be released. Like so many people today, repeat offenders are not held accountable for their actions. RJB

“New COVID-19 cases across NM surge by 13%” Yes, they have. Do like SAN FRANCISCO, every business customer must show their vax certificate at the door. NB

N.M. governor flies private jet to the CLIMATE CONFERENCE in Scotland. Who does she think she is, John Kerry or God? JL

I have always voted for most of the bond issues on the ballot. I voted against the SOCCER STADIUM because of its proposed location. We must protect our cultural treasures, including the Barelas, Huning and Martineztown neighborhoods. Look what we’ve done to our unique Nob Hill, shameful! CN

OK, Journal. INSULTING BOOMERS, your primary subscribers, is not the best way to keep your subscription base. FYI, boomers built and continue to build this great country. RDM

I have heard “Your taxes will not increase” many times in the past weeks. Why have my property taxes increased every year? The county boasts “we moved into the PNM building with no tax increase.” At least be truthful. I’m paying much more PROPERTY TAX now than (in the) past 10 years. SL

Went to vote. COULDN’T

VOTE for mayor or stadium because I live in the county — but I live in Albuquerque. How many others couldn’t vote? I will never vote again. Thanks, Albuquerque, for your dumb rules. MN

This past city ELECTION demonstrated how the public cries and moans about serious issues, yet, when it comes to electing “new voices,” it’s the same old voices that prevail. HH

V.P. (KAMALA) HARRIS was given the task of addressing the “root issues” of the southern border crisis. … Having produced no measurable improvement, she has distanced herself from border and immigration issues generally. Let’s remember this failure and how she ran from the challenge when she runs for president. DWA

The way New Mexicans vote reminds me of a story: A man goes to the refrigerator for a glass of milk. When he takes a drink, he finds out the milk is sour, so he puts it back. That is exactly how New Mexicans vote — to put the SOUR MILK back. TK

OK, Albuquerque voters. Your property TAX BILLS are in the mail. They’ll increase by the 3% allowed. Except for the soccer stadium, all the bond issues passed. Had they not passed, your property taxes would have decreased. Please consider that next November. DM

Re: AVANGRID/PNM: Let’s follow the money. They did not spend millions on a monster advertising campaign out of the goodness of their heart. They expect many more millions profit from their takeover. … No to merger. RC