South Pasadena, Calif. – Carol Liu, a former member of the State Assembly and a candidate for the State Senate, found out what it is like to be a homecare worker when she spent her Tuesday morning “walking in the shoes” of SEIU member and caregiver Suzanne Ellison.

It was all a part of SEIU’s program to ensure that politicians have first-hand knowledge of the challenges that face working people in America.

Liu, running for the open seat in the 21st district, visited Ellison at the South Pasadena home of client Susan Henderson and assisted her throughout the morning. Henderson, a former flight attendant, suffers from congestive heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, aphasia and other ailments. Along with administering Mrs. Henderson’s medicine, Liu also helped out with the housekeeping, doing the dishes, turning the bed and helping to sweep up.

The effort by Liu highlighted the ongoing battle to stave off cuts to the state’s In Home Supportive Services program.
The IHSS provides homecare services to people while simultaneously maintaining their quality of life by allowing them to remain in their own homes in order to avoid or delay institutionalization. The program is currently facing cuts of up to 18 per cent across the board.

“It’s really important that we don’t forget the sick and elderly in our society,” said Liu, who served in the state assembly
from 2000 to 2006. “I think all politicians should participate in this program so they are reminded of what these workers have to go through. We need to stop these cuts.”

Ellison, a long-time member of SEIU Local 6434, the United Long-Term Care Workers’ Union, warned of the consequences
of proposed cuts to the state’s IHSS BUDGET.

“If these cuts go through, my client is going to suffer,” she said. “No one will be here to help her.”

Ellison is a member of SEIU Local 6434, the United Long-Term Care Workers’ Union, which is the largest union of long-term care workers in California, and the second largest local in the nation. ULTCW represents over 150,000 California homecare and nursing home workers who provide vital care and services to seniors and people with disabilities.

Through its “Walk a Day In My Shoes” program, the SEIU has helped to educate politicians at all levels of government
about the challenges that face working people today. Other politicians who have participated include presidential candidate Barack Obama, Minnesota Senate Candidate Al Franken and (at the state level) Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennet.