Through A Caregiver's Eyes

See what life is like for caregivers across California who care for seniors and people with disabilities in their own homes. These photos were taken by homecare providers to give us a glimpse of what it's like to do such hard work for such little pay. We successfully defeated a proposed cap on provider hours but the Governor is continuing a devastating cut in hours and the Department of Labor is considering delaying our hard-fought right to overtime. IHSS caregivers want to remind us that every hour counts for us and our clients.

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Benjamin is our sweet 31 year old son. He is loving and funny and we'd do anything to keep his quality of life as it is now. Although he requires feeding, bathing, diapering, dressing, lifting into his wheelchair, transporting to doctors, etc. we wouldn't have it any other way. We love our Ben and can only hope that the state will continue to fund IHSS hours for families like ours.

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My Client having a procedure to help save her life at a local hospital.

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Cynthia, caregiver to Michelle who has Multiple Sclerosis. We really did have fun that day. I’ve learned to see the world through Michelle’s eyes and it’s been like a gift to me.

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This is my daughter whom I care for. Without IHSS, she would not be able to have quality of life.

Thank you, Alba! What a beautiful photo and reminder of the importance of this program.

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Ashley caregiver in Los Angeles. . My daddy.. been in this bus for the last 5 years. He’s in good spirit today but some days are not to good 

Thanks for your submission, Ashley!

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We're not just a care giver we're a great companion. 

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Every hour counts when taking care of my dad. He has allot that can kill him in a moments notice. He has Kidney failure witch requires dialysis 5 to 6 times weekly. He has COPD, congestive heart failure, atrial fib or AFIB. He has Diabetics type 2 uncontrolled. He has no right leg due to complications. They chopped off two of his toes on his other foot. I am a father of 3 children and have to leave my home and live in with my dad until his death. Every hour counts please don’t cut our program.

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this is our Nelly she is 36 years old and is totally dependent on her family, she is healthy and happy as she has continuity of care, if Mr Brown's proposal of capping hours goes through she will lose that continuity and for us that have disabled family and friends know without continuity of care, the quality of life goes away and unfortunately so do our loved ones

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This is my daughter Emma, she is 12 years old. She was born with many different issues, deafness, Heat/cold intolerance, C.P., developmental delay, failure to thrive, the list goes on and on. Our daily lives consist of 5-7 g-tube meals daily, countless diaper changes and bed baths, and that is the easy stuff. Our days sometimes seem to melt right into the next, I have days she doesn’t sleep for 24-30 hours at a time, and days we get to cuddle up for a well deserved nap. Some days are easier then others, but then there are the days that seem to challenge you more then you think you can bear, when the self harming and hitting are triggered from anxiety attacks that can’t seem to be controlled, which result in me having my 12 year old to curl up in my lap as though she was a 3 month old again. I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t stay home with her, there is no one else to care for her, just me. What will happen when the day comes I can no longer be here for her, who then will care for my sweet girl.

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My special needs sister Anita. She is 52 years old and has a heart of gold. Anita needs complete assistance she has cerebral palsy and has never walked and has diabetes insipitus. She is child like and has been evaluated to have the mentality of a 12 year old. Our Mom passed away 3 years ago from lung cancer. She use to care for Anita till she got sick.  She asked me to please take her and don’t let her go in a home. I took her in a heartbeat. I quit my job of 26 years in Mortgage Banking and a $55K a year income. The only thing Anita can do for herself is to feed herself and drink out of her sippy cup. She needs to be bathed, dressed, put on and off the toilet, denture care, all hygiene care, to be exercised for range of motion, turned in bed, limbs massaged, meds given to her, taken to doctors appointments, blood work, outings and shopping for her recreation and the list goes on. She is the sweetest person I know and cares about everyone. For the Governor to want to reduce the budget by cutting caregivers hours and discontinuing overtime seems cruel and heartless to our disabled, mentality challenged, ill senior citizens and others who need our help. If my sister had to go in a homepage would never get the care I give her. We are living on minimum income. I took a huge cut in income when I had to quit my job to care for Anita. Let us caregivers take care of our family or clients the hours they deserve.

-Belinda, Caregiver, Santa Ana, CA

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i love taking care of my mom my care is personal familiar loving and she trust me with every fiber of her being she wouldnt want anyone else taking care of her nor would i give up my postion please dont cut our hours it only hurts those we love to keep healthly and living with us 

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Hi my son Brian has to be looked after 24/7 and I do it. I would not like anyone else to watch him because I don’t trust anyone.

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My son travels a lot for his work, but he has committed to me and my niece who has Down syndrome that he will always be there for her when I can no longer take care of her. It's a relief to know she will always be cared for.

-Yong, caregiver in Gilroy, CA

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This is my 75 year old client Donna who suffers from diabetes, a heart condition and a brain tumor. She has a very sweet personality.  I have cared for her for the past 10 years. I work every day with no days off, 365 days a year.  She has family, but they do not live close by. I help her with domestic work, like cooking, cleaning and taking her to doctors’ appointments and shopping.  I truly consider Donna like she was a member of my family and try to include her in major holiday celebrations.

 Elva Munoz, Santa Barbara County

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Going to church every Sunday is an important part of my family's routine. When being a caregiver starts to feel overwhelming it's nice to have my spiritual family for support

-Cindy, caregiver in Roseville, CA

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Even though I am in a foot cast and not feeling well physically myself, I still need to help my daughter, who has developmental disabilities, to keep her apartment clean.

-Vibiana, caregiver in Santa Maria, CA

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Amber is a 36 year old quadriplegic with coexisting conditions of Cerebral Palsy; Bipolar I; Severe Seizure Disorder; Severe Obstructive Apnea; Depression; and she has no self-help skills. She requires assistance for every daily activity that legislators are able to do for themselves and take for granted. So if you take even a portion of what little we get from our dedication to others - you are actually taking quality of life and love from the people in the world that need it most.