Caregivers for elderly, blind, and disabled individuals in Santa Barbara County just secured a pay bump in a new three-year contract approved by the Board of Supervisors this week.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers are people like Mary Bouldin, who takes care of her disabled son, Tom, around the clock. It’s hard work. Last week, Tom spent a week in the ICU due to an unexpected medication issue. She and Tom stayed up for 97 hours, barely getting any sleep while he was in the hospital, she recounted.
“The last few days at home have been very rough as well,” Bouldin said. “Everyone did a wonderful job working with Tom at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, but Tom found the experience traumatizing — as did his mom. It’s a heck of a job.”…