Sen. Jehlen Shadows Elder Care Aide

State Senator Pat Jehlen shadowed an elder care worker in Somerville on Wednesday. Photo by Aaron Toleos.

On Wednesday State Senator Pat Jehlen (D-Somerville, Medford), chair of the Elder Affairs Committee, shadowed a personal care attendant in Somerville to learn first-hand about elder care services.

The event was part of Come Care with Me Day sponsored by PHI, a national nonprofit organization that supports quality home care services for elders and people with disabilities and quality jobs for the aides who provide those services, according to information released by the organization.

Senator Pat Jehlen worked alongside Philomena Ahern, a homemaker and personal care attendant with Homemaker Services for twenty-five years, on her weekly visit at the home of Stella Murphy, a 102-year-old Somerville resident who was widowed in June.

“This was an unforgettable experience where I learned more about the essential work of homemakers and personal care attendants – the direct-care workers who make it possible for older adults and people with disabilities to live independently in their homes,” said Senator Jehlen.

“Families depend on these workers to care for their loved ones – often so that they can work themselves. If Massachusetts is going to meet the rapidly-growing demand for this workforce, we need to ensure that these jobs are good jobs with decent wages, health coverage, better training, and opportunities for career advancement,” said the Senator.

Sen. Jehlen is running for re-election on November 2. She is being challenged by Medford Republican David Carnevale. Sen. Jehlen was recently endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus.

– InsideMedford.com