Caregivers deserve more appreciation

Caregivers in Hawaii want to start the year with optimism.

There are reasons for this. The state economy is improving, and Hawaii has an $844 million budget surplus.

For caregivers, this really is good news. They have being ignored and left out for years. While other groups had pay raises, the pay of caregivers has been stagnant.

Members of the Legislature seem to overlook the caregivers’ sad plight — ignoring the sad financial situation of these "unsung heroes" who provide quality care to physically handicapped and elderly people with genuine compassion, dedication and love.

Hawaii residents have the longest life expectancy in the nation. Its population is aging with more and more people living in nursing homes, care homes and foster homes.

If this trend continues, private and public nursing homes will not be able to meet the demand of the aging population.

This said, the care and services of the caregivers can’t be overlooked anymore.

We at the Caregivers Association had originally planned to send this letter to the governor and to the members of the state Legislature, but decided otherwise. We don’t have the resources to hire a professional lobbyist to present our concerns and problems at the legislative session. With the consensus of the executive board, we decided to use this public commentary to have our concerns known and our problems be in the open, hoping that our lawmakers will realize how valuable and important the caregivers’ services is to Hawaii’s aging population.

There are numerous labor organizations in Hawaii. Some of these unionized groups have fewer numbers than the caregiving industry. Sources from the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health show that there are about 1,500 licensed and highly trained caregivers in Hawaii. Most of them are licensed registered nurses and certified nurses’ aides. Some are Philippines-trained doctors who, sadly, do not meet the requirements to practice their trade in Hawaii.

If the only way to prevent them from being left out and ignored is to form their own bargaining unit, so be it. With the help of some concerned and kind lawyers who are willing to give pro bono services to this thriving caregiving industry, uniting the caregivers can make a seemingly impossible dream a reality. They know there are challenges and problems to overcome. But with tenacity, hard work, perseverance and clear resolve, they can prevail. Other groups did. Caregivers are aware that self-confidence is a must — a key to success.

Meantime, the caregivers will continue their daily, routine work providing love and compassion to their residents. Soon they will end up living in care or foster homes themselves. As the saying goes: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The caregivers hope that 2014 will be a good year for the caregiving industry.