So much of ageism and elder abuse is completely inextricable from ableism. I wish able bodied young people would think for two seconds before sharing things that are literally ableist/eugenics/abuse culture shit
COVID is screwing my paycheck and I don’t live in a place where rent relief or moratoriums have been passed to protect people being affected financially by the pandemic.
I am a respite caregiver for children with autism. Naturally, the family I work with has increased risk factors during this pandemic. They also have an elderly relative from out of the country visiting who definitely can’t be exposed without serious consequences. As such, we cancelled both sessions this weekend, meaning I only have two of the four sessions I would get for this paycheck—shorting me $118. I barely get by as it is. I can’t afford to just lose income rn. My second job likely won’t start until Tuesday next week and I don’t expect I’ll be paid in time for rent, which is $625. There’s a big chance I don’t have any more shifts with the kids at all until this gets a little less scary.
I cannot get sick but I also work 2 jobs that have no benefits and no ability to work from home or have paid time off during this crisis. The job I’m starting next week will be public-facing as well. I’m already struggling to keep sane rn because I’m not on meds that I need to function normally, and my stress levels are off the charts which is not good because I have a history of high blood pressure and have used blood pressure medications in the last 6mos which might make me more sensitive to the virus.
My boyfriend might be at higher risk for COVID as well because of childhood asthma (that we don’t know if it’s actually gone or if it will come back bc he’s just now at the age where it would recur), and at least one of our housemates also has underlying conditions that would make this incredibly devastating if it got in this house. We can’t self isolate because we don’t have anywhere to go. None of us have easy access to healthcare right now.
We also eat off of EBT that’s most likely not going to continue in April because of the pandemic. This happens every time California has any kind of emergency.
e-seal