On Thursday, June 11, 1199SEIU members made their way to Trenton to educate New Jersey legislators about the critical need to improve Medicaid funding in the state budget. 1199ers say that lack of funding is jeopardizing quality care by contributing to low staffing levels, shortages of supplies, and poor job standards for caregivers who often struggle to get by earning less than $25,000 a year.

About two-thirds of New Jersey’s 45,000 nursing home residents rely on Medicaid to cover the costs of their daily care, so funding shortfalls pose a significant problem.

“When nursing homes are underfunded, they cut positions and put more load on each of us, so we work short staffed all the time,” explained Marie Mervil, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Alaris Health at Hamilton Park in Jersey City. “Residents don’t get the care they’re supposed to have.”

“We’re the ones to give love and support every day to our residents,” said Alfonso Salcedo, a CNA at King Manor Care & Rehabilitation Center in Neptune. “We see our residents more than their own families do, so our jobs are really important. We need to have good benefits so we can keep ourselves healthy. I have a two year old daughter and it’s really hard to make ends meet, even by working overtime.”

1199SEIU members spoke with dozens of legislators and held meetings with some of New Jersey’s highest-ranking legislators, including Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senate President Steve Sweeney, who both pledged to support caregivers’ call for better nursing home funding.

“It was very important for us to share our stories directly with New Jersey’s leadership,” said Grace Alexander, a CNA at Morris Hills Center in Morristown, who met with Senate President Sweeney. “Our meeting was very productive. The Senator spoke about a relative of his who lives in a nursing home and how he sees how important our jobs are. I felt so appreciated and proud to be a caregiver, and I know our work here in Trenton is making a difference.”