Joseph Pepe lives in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.  Even though he’s lived with a progressive muscle disease since he was a child, he’s always been independent and active in his community.  "My problems are versatile," says Joe.  "And I really need assistance with everything I do."

Because of the hard work of direct care attendant Brenda McFadden -- who has been working for Joe for six years -- Joe is able to stay at home, and to live the independent life he chooses.  But because of the way our long term care system works -- workers like Brenda earn an average of $8.25 an hour -- with no health benefits.  "To go for six years without health care insurance -- that’s not fair, to us, and to our consumers," says Brenda.  "If I’m sick, I can’t come around him, if I just can’t get medicine.  The current situation means that he has to depend on us to stay healthy."

Watch this video of Brenda and Joe working together -- and telling their story about why every Pennsylvanian should have the right to choose to live at home.  Learn why they support Pennsylvania's Consumer Workforce Council.

When President Barack Obama was still on the campaign trail, he joined home care worker Pauline Beck and senior and home care consumer John Thornton to walk a day in Pauline's shoes.  He did all the hard work a direct care worker does every day -- helping John -- a retiree in Alameda, California, stay independent in his home.

"Seniors and those living with disabilities really need this assistance," Pauline says. It’s important for their minds and bodies that they are able to stay in their homes and live out their lives. We need to think about how we’ll want to be treated when we are that age."

Watch the video here:

Attached is the draft work product/intergovernmental agreement designed by a Steering Committee of people with disabilities, seniors, home care workers, and other stakeholders in the Summer of 2008.  If you have any questions about the intergovernmental agreement, you should contact Thomas Earle, CEO of Liberty Resources, Incorporated, and chairman of the Steering Committee, at thomasearle@libertyresources.org.

Major congratulations to home care workers Iris Troche and Jessica Santiago for telling their stories of why they want to improve home care in Pennsylvania's leading Spanish-language paper, Al Dia. They are working with home care consumers and workers to build the Consumer Workforce Council -- so they can keep providing exemplary care while earing the wages and benefits they need. Read their story in English below, and check out the attachment for a Spanish-language version!