The exploitation of caregivers intersects with gender, race and immigration status

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Illustration by Molly Mendoza

Hi Revealer,

Jennifer, Melissa, Anayansi and Rae from Reveal here. In recognition of Women’s History Month, we’re reflecting on the power of female sources and Reveal’s female reporters. We are grateful to have worked with so many women over the years on issues ranging from labor to immigration, housing and climate change. One story that stands out is our investigation into the rampant exploitation and abuse of caregivers in senior care homes across America.
Support the power of female sources and female reporters. Donate today. ([link removed])
This project brought us together across a range of specialties – data, video, radio and digital – to tell the story of thousands of caregivers across the country who are working 24 hours a day for less than minimum wage. We learned how the undervaluation of senior care intersects not just with gender, but with race and immigration status: Caregivers are more likely to be women, less likely to be White and less likely to be citizens.

For our radio show, we followed the case of Normita Lim and Sonia Deza. For years, they worked around the clock for what amounted to about $2 an hour. They didn’t complain. Their boss, Rommel Publico, was eventually reported to the U.S. Department of Labor and ordered to give them thousands of dollars in back pay. He pretended to pay them back. He even took them to the bank to cash their checks. But upon exiting the bank, he took the money back from them and threatened to fire them if they complained.

We also spoke to Valerie Francisco-Menchavez, a sociologist and San Francisco State University professor who has focused her research on Filipina migration and the caregiving industry. She played a key role in helping our team understand that these are not isolated events, but a dynamic of worker exploitation in the U.S. that goes back generations. But she also made clear that workers like Deza and Lim are part of a legacy of workers who advocate for themselves and for each other.

Indeed, despite the risks, Deza and Lim did speak up. They let our team of reporters into their lives and shared their experience with us – and the world – with no guarantees that it would make a difference.
Support the power of female sources and female reporters. Donate today. ([link removed])
After we aired ([link removed]) and published ([link removed]) our series, lawmakers called for a congressional hearing, plans for new state legislation and accountability from long-term care facility investors. California agencies conducted enforcement sweeps and demanded payment for wage theft judgments. And in February, after seven years of waiting, Deza and Lim got justice. A judge finally ordered their former boss to pay them tens of thousands of dollars in back wages.

It was their courage and determination that helped us drive lasting change. During this Women’s History Month, we ask that you support women holding power to account. Please donate today ([link removed]) .
Your donation helps us amplify whistleblowers’ experiences so that others will be encouraged to come forward.

Thank you for your support.

Jennifer Gollan
Melissa Lewis
Anayansi Diaz-Cortes
Rae de Leon

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