I’m not ready for a nursing home. I live with serious mobility issues and dizziness, but thanks to my son James, I’m able to stay in my home. He’s just 20 years old, but he stepped up in a big way — keeping me safe, clean, fed, and getting me to the doctor. Without him, I’d already be in a facility. But because of him, I can live with dignity.

James is doing everything right. He works another job on top of being my caregiver. We get 26 hours a week of home care support, which is nowhere near enough. Between that, his paycheck, and my SSI income, we still come up short. And when our combined income rose just slightly, we lost $501 a month in food stamps. Just like that. So now the money we were saving for a car has to go toward groceries.

This is what happens when a system punishes families for trying to do the right thing. We’re not asking for luxuries. We’re just trying to survive.

James wants to stay in this field. He’s good at this work. He’s proud of it. But he can’t afford to do this full-time because the pay and benefits just aren’t there. And that’s a shame, not just for us, but for every Pennsylvanian who depends on home care to stay out of institutions.

That’s why I’m urging our lawmakers to support Gov. Shapiro’s proposed $21 million investment in home care. This is about keeping families together. It’s about basic fairness. It’s about giving caregivers like James a future — and giving people like me the chance to stay at home with the people we love.

This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It’s a human one. I vote Republican, and I’m asking my fellow Republicans to stand up for people like me, especially given the chaos in Washington.

I come from a union family. My dad was a union steelworker, and I remember standing on the picket line with him when I was a kid. I learned early that when working people speak up together, change is possible. That’s what I’m doing now.

Support and expand Gov. Shapiro’s home care plan. Give families like mine a fair shot at a decent life.

Thomas Bowman

Coaldale