I-185 would preserve sufficient caregiving

My name is Lori List. I have been a caregiver since 2005. I was working in Washington State as a caregiver until I moved to Montana in August 2017. I currently take care of two family members and one non-family client.

As my client’s caregiver, I am not given enough time to meet their needs. My family members will always receive the care they need, whether I get paid or not. However, not having enough hours for my other client places stress on both of us, as I am always trying to adjust to limited time to meet his major needs of the day. If hours remain as limited by budget cuts as they currently are, I may have to try to juggle another job to meet my financial needs. This means I will not be there for my family and my other client even more often than I already am.

This affects so many people in our small community. Many clients may have to go to a nursing home or similar facility when they prefer to and would like to stay at home as long as possible. We are our clients’ home-based caregivers. It is really hard to tell a client in that situation that I don’t have enough hours to care for them as they need me to.

The funding from I-185 will help preserve and expand these much needed health services. Please join me in voting yet for I-185 on Nov. 6.

—Lori List,

Libby