The Invisible Women

They have names like Peggy Turner and Angela Muniz and Elena Susana. They are the invisible women who fan out across the city each day, mostly traveling by subway, to go into people's homes and do the grunt work of caring for those who are sick or infirm.

My "attendant", as they are known around here, is easily one of the finest and most remarkable  people I have ever met in my life.  Her name is Evelyn Johnson, and she comes from a family of ten children in rural Alabama. She's family, in the best sense of that word, and I don't know how we could live without her.

There are thousands of home health aides in New York City and they work hard, taking on the tasks that most people, even close relatives, shun. "We bathe the clients, and feed them and dress them and give them their medication," said Mary Toni, an aide who lives in the South Bronx. "We run errands and take them to their doctors' appointments. Whatever is necessary, that's what we do."

Let's see, what else?  Well, in my case you can include various forms of grooming, intimate skilled nursing help with moving my bowels and bladder because these things don't work on their own any more.  Folding clothes, walking the dog, singing gospel (Evelyn goes to church every night of the week and is the president of her choir).   And most importantly of all, she talks mess to me.  We laugh together. Plus, she's a great friend to Ann.  They hang out together and talk heart to heart.

Most are paid a pathetic $6 or $7 an hour. Some are paid less. Nearly all of the workers are women, and most of them receive no health care, no sick pay, and get no vacation.

For that kind of money around here you probably are going to end up with someone right out of  prison.  Seriously, someone of Evelyn's caliber, and there are very few, simply has to be taken care of.  We've paid people more who can do a lot less.  So thanks to those friends who are able to help us out financially, Evelyn gets $17 an hour, paid vacations, and through another client's business, health insurance.