On Tuesday, August 20th, 1199SEIU members at Newark Extended Care in Newark, NJ, welcomed Congressman Donald Payne Jr. into their facility to give him hands-on experience in providing critical care to the elderly and disabled.



Over the past months, 1199ers across New Jersey have been hosting “walk a day in our shoes” events to remind legislators of the need to ensure sufficient funding for nursing homes in the state and federal budget.



“It’s important for elected leaders to get the chance to see what’s involved in making sure that residents have a clean and safe environment,” says Karen Covington, who works in the housekeeping department. “It takes a lot of teamwork to keep the place up.”



Caregivers from each department—dietary, housekeeping, nursing, and recreation—gave Congressman Payne a crash course in what’s necessary to provide for the full range of physical, emotional, and social needs of residents.



“I love our residents and believe firmly that when you deal with people, you need to have empathy, to listen and not be judgmental,” says Glenn Hamilton, who has worked at the facility for over two decades. “As a recreational therapist, I take time to get to know each person. Our residents were once productive members of our society, and we need not neglect them now.”



Glenn says that working in the health field wasn’t something that he originally set out to do, but that he knows now that it’s his life’s calling: “Since I became a caregiver, I’ve grown very spiritual. God has put me where he needs me to be.”



Congressman Payne was impressed by the level of individual care and attention that the facility’s residents receive from 1199SEIU members. “I appreciate the time you’ve given me to gain a deeper understanding of your day to day lives,” he says. “The care given to seniors and those with special needs has improved because of the service you provide. I know what it means to do the type of work you do.”