John—

I’m Zena, and I’m a leader on the Healthcare team with Citizen Action Wisconsin. And over the last week, I was one of dozens of Caring Across supporters who met with Congressmembers and staff to lobby for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).

This lobby week was a huge success — we scheduled so many meetings that we actually had to extend into a second week to get them all in. We’ve already talked to 25 congressional offices, and there are still more meetings coming this week.

The members of Congress we talked to were impressed by our case for HCBS, and now we need to show them how strong the demand for HCBS is around the country.

As a post-lobby week follow-up, Caring Across will deliver a petition demanding Congress support HCBS in any relief and recovery bills they pass — and we need you to add your name. Will you sign today?

Sign our petition demanding HCBS today, and Caring Across will deliver it this week.

Caregiving is an issue close to my heart because throughout my life, I have experienced the many ways our country’s care infrastructure is lacking and unable to provide folks the support they need to age and live independently at home. I’ve seen family members struggle to take care of loved ones, even sacrificing their careers and lives in order to take care of the ones we love.

After feeling sick for a while, I was diagnosed with an immunocompromising disease in 2016. My husband quickly added caregiving on top of the responsibilities of his full-time job. Then, when he lost that job, my family often had to balance whether we should pay the mortgage or pay for my medicine.

On top of that, my parents are getting older, and they need more help than I can provide. They live nine hours away, in rural Minnesota -- too far for me to travel in the case of emergency, especially with my condition. We’re starting to think that they should move closer, but they don’t want to leave the home they hold dear, where they raised their children. HCBS could help them live comfortably at home.

If you believe, like I do, that caregiving is essential to people living with dignity, join me in signing Caring Across Generations’ petition urging Congress to support HCBS.

Caring Across will deliver the petition this week, with the follow-up information from our lobby week visits, so this is your last chance to add your name. Will you sign today?

Add your name.

With care,

Zena Blom
Caring Across Generations Activist

PS — Already signed the petition? Be sure to share it with your friends and family so they can add their names, too!