Advocates for people with disabilities concerned about ‘staffing crisis’ (WXXI)

A feature I did on low wages and high staff turnover in places that care for people with disabilities in New York state. The high turnover rate, 23 percent within the first year of employment, advocates told me, leaves their loved ones even more vulnerable.

Caretakers help people with developmental and intellectual disabilities around the clock. They can help with transportation, medical services, recreation and daily tasks like personal hygiene.

“Sometimes you come in and it’s somebody new, you don’t know them and so you’re starting over again,” one parent told me. “That becomes important, to know the people that are caring for your child.”