December, 2003
Like so many others lately, I came down with a terrible flu. I suppose it was to be expected... after all, tis the season. I found myself at home coughing so hard I could barely breathe. It's strange what your mind chooses to focus on when you're sick, mine was obsessed with the fact that my household chores were piling up. Dirty dishes seemed to be multiplying by themselves, and the kitchen was a disaster area. I shut my bedroom door so I didn't have to see the mounds of laundry waiting for me. I had been sick for days and didn't have the energy to warm up soup, much less to clean an apartment that would make even the most experienced Merry Maid shudder. I live alone, and let's just say my cat doesn't exactly do windows.
So, I finally called my Mom to tell her I was sick, hoping that she would offer to make me turkey soup, and take care of me. I was not disappointed, it was Mom to the rescue that same afternoon. As she puttered away, cheerily cleaning and fetching medication, I started to think about what I would do if there was no one to take care of me. What if there was no family member for me to call? How would I get by...or at least get well. I thought about the In Home Supportive Services Program, and how important it is to people with disabilities and seniors. Honestly, this is what happens, my mind wanders to thinking about programs, social services, public policy. It's no wonder I can never keep track of my keys.
For those of you who don't know, the In Home Supportive Services Program (IHSS) provides personal care and housekeeping services to low income seniors and people with disabilities, so that they can live at home independently rather than in an institution. It provides invaluable services to many residents of Monterey County. There is an application process and the amount of assistance provided depends on the severity of your disability. For those of you out there with the sniffles...no the flu does not count as a disability, but nice try.
I chose to write about this topic in my column this month, because there is an exciting opportunity that recipients of this program and their care providers should know about. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors is seeking non-paid volunteers to serve on the Advisory Committee of the Public Authority for In-Home Supportive Services (PAIHSS). The PAIHSS or Public Authority, as it is commonly called is the agency responsible for maintaining a registry of care providers, providing training, and acting as the "employer of record" for collective bargaining with regard to care provider wages and benefits.
Advisory Committee members will work together to ensure that the personal care needs of seniors and people with disabilities are met, both at home and in the work place. Members may be program recipients, also known as "consumers" or their care providers. If you use a care provider in your home, whether you pay them or they are paid through the IHSS program, you are also eligible to serve on the Committee.
Advisory Committee members will guide the operations of the Public Authority and evaluate it's registry and training services. They will provide insight from the consumer or provider perspective on policy and program development. Meetings will be held monthly at a regular date and time to be determined by the members. The meetings will rotate to different locations within the County, all of which will be accessible to people with disabilities. Subcommittee meetings may be scheduled. Assistance will be provided to people with disabilities who wish to serve on the Committee. For more information, please contact me at (831) 757-2968 (voice) (831) 757-3949 TDD or ddallimore@cccil.org via email.