I am the primary caregiver for my 100-year-old grandmother Eva. Last June, just as we finished celebrating her big birthday, she fell and broke her hip. After surgery and rehab, she returned home and needed help getting in and out of bed, eating, bathing and managing her pain. Eva needed constant supervision as she learned to use her walker, and my husband and I took turns leaving the house.

I am grateful to say she’s recovered well, but I was unable to work normal hours for nearly three months. I work for myself as an illustrator, so fortunately I didn’t need to ask for time off. However, my income was minimal, and I feared losing my clients as well as my health insurance.

As one of the oldest states in the country, Maine relies on unpaid caregivers to ensure that all Mainers have the support they need to be healthy. In fact, unpaid caregivers provided $2.9 million worth of care in 2021 alone. Caregivers need more support to be able to continue doing this vital work.

Most Mainers will need to take time off work to care for ourselves or someone we love at some point. We shouldn’t be afraid when we do. We should be able to focus on our grandmothers, our loved ones, and ourselves. We need a comprehensive paid leave program for all Maine workers. Please join me in urging our state legislators to support L.D. 1964 to implement paid leave in Maine.

Amy Larkin
Arundel

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