Raise pay, support for essential caregivers

THE EXCELLENT (guest column) about caregivers by Adrienne Smith on Nov. 1 deserves support and amplification. We are in the midst of a crisis with a severe lack of caregivers in facility after facility.

My wife, a hospice nurse, (recently) visited a patient at a local facility. One caregiver was the only staff member serving nine clients. She was providing food, medicine and all personal care without any assistance. She was working well and hard and was exhausted.

But why would any prospective caregiver take on such a job for minimal pay and minimal recognition for their work? In fact, many are showing they won’t continue. This pandemic has laid bare our history of poor treatment of many service workers, which even extends to such professionals as teachers, who have had enough. The public abuse of teachers, nurses and even store clerks that we now see is … break(ing) the back of a system that does not work.

No longer can we rely on women earning a “second” income to provide services to our children and seniors. We have to recruit, train, pay and provide a career path for advancement. There are some caregivers who love their work for their clients. Some might chose to continue if adequately paid and recognized.

High schools, CNM, UNM, NMSU and city and state leaders need to establish and fund the entire system, including stipends for those who would seek training but need financial support to leave $15-per-hour jobs doing what they have to do, not what they would love to do. …

ELMER JACKSON Albuquerque