Editorial: Those caring for disabled need better compensation
By The Herald Editorial Board
Amienata “Ami” Sankareh is one of about 12,000 long-term health care workers in Washington state who provide direct support services to about 4,600 people with developmental disabilities.
The Everett single mother, who came to the United States from Gambia, has worked in care home settings for about five years. During a normal work day she usually cares for about four clients, work that includes getting them up, showered, dressed, fed, given medications and assisted with activities. Two of her current clients are in wheelchairs.
“It’s difficult work, of course,” Sankareh said. “But I like my job and I love my clients. I want to work to help them.”
But it’s also a job that now pays about the same as most other minimum wage jobs in the state, currently $14.49 an hour. Some 14 years ago, most direct support professionals earned about 24 percent more than minimum wage; that figure is now about 5 percent above minimum wage.
https://www.heraldnet.com/opinion/editorial-those-caring-for-disabled-need-better-compensation/
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