Caregivers' pay at heart of lawsuit

Statesman Journal 6/13/2008 Caregivers' pay at heart of lawsuit Paralyzed man's independence at stake, it claims Paralyzed since he broke his neck in a 1996 diving accident, Clay Freeman depends on 11 machines and around-the-clock care to stay alive. . . . Distressingly, the Salem quadriplegic has had a hard time retaining the caregivers who serve as his conduit to daily life. Some have burned out tending to his complex needs. Others have resigned to take less rigorous work that pays better. When another caregiver called it quits early this month, Freeman, 34, was left with two of the five hands-on assistants he needs to monitor his machines and assist him with breathing, eating, toileting and more. The caregiver crisis posed life-threatening complications for Freeman and crimped his federally mandated rights to live with as much independence as possible, according to a lawsuit brought against the state of Oregon on his behalf. To read the complete article go to: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806130339