My Work as an In-Home Caregiver Shouldn’t Be This Hard
Minimum Wage, Unpaid Hours, Tricky Client Dynamics, and No Outside Support Sometimes Make This the Worst Job I’ve Ever Had
As one of the over 550,000 caregivers in the state’s In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) programs, I am part of a big system that keeps 650,000 disabled, blind, or elderly Californians in their own homes, and out of nursing or board-and-care facilities.
But when I go to work around my hometown of Fresno in the houses, trailers, and apartments of these Californians, I often feel alone.
Sometimes, I think this is the worst job I’ve ever had.
That’s saying something because I’ve been working since age 13, almost always taking care of others. Most …
