HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut home-care, group-home, and nursing-home workers want the state to commit to creating a better working environment for them, especially in the pandemic.

Long-term care workers and members of Service Employees International Union District 1199 Northeast rallied yesterday for their "Bill of Rights" - a petition that outlines the need for pay increases, better health benefits, and a three-month stock of personal protective equipment for future public-health emergencies.

Anthony Pina Ligon, a Connecticut home healthcare provider and member of the union, said it took several months for the state to provide PPE when the pandemic hit. He paid high prices for his own gear and sanitizing supplies, which he said was a burden.

"They pretty much didn't want to supply just gloves or face masks," said Pina Ligon. "They were telling us to wear garbage bags for garments. You know, we're fed up. We need health care, we need more support from the state, because people are dying."

SEIU says this group of workers wasn't included in Gov. Ned Lamont's latest budget proposal. And the union notes that 20 caregivers in this SEIU chapter have died from COVID-19 complications.

The workers want an hourly wage increase of $3.75. Pina Ligon added that healthcare benefits would give them a much better quality of life, and peace of mind.

"I haven't healthcare for a year, because I can't apply for HUSKY or Obamacare or anything like that, because I have three incomes coming in," said Pina Ligon. "So, I'm in a different tax bracket, according to the State of Connecticut, where I have to come out-of-pocket for stuff like that. And it's very expensive."

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, six in ten long-term care providers in the U.S. are low-income workers.

Other demands outlined in the union's petition include paid sick time, affordable child care and prompt paychecks.

The Magnolia State is in the top five for worst access to dental care, according to a county-by-county report. More than 70 million Americans live in communities without enough dental-care providers.

Dr. Paul McConnell, dental director with UnitedHealthcare, said families don't have to sacrifice their children's dental health if they can't find a provider, and added it's all about teaching kids good oral hygiene habits as early as possible, which they'll carry with them throughout their lives.

"Cleaning your baby's gums with water and a soft cloth starting from birth to one year old, and then as those teeth do start to emerge, you're going to use a soft-bristle toothbrush and a small dab of fluoride toothpaste, usually about the size of a grain of rice. And then you'll still continue to brush twice a day," he explained.

Limited access to dental care contributes to poor oral health, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. McConnell highlights the importance of regular dental visits for children. He acknowledged access to dental care can be limited in rural areas but suggests community health centers, local colleges and dental schools as options for getting young people the care they need.

McConnell said good oral-hygiene routines have a lasting effect on your teeth and gums. For example, periodontal disease, a major concern for older adults, can be prevented with proper care from a young age.

"Chronic periodontal disease is something that does affect the majority of our adult population. Nearly half of adults 30 and older have some form of gum disease, and this increases to 70% of people 65 years and older. Daily flossing is key for avoiding the development and/or progression of periodontal disease," McConnell continued.

Research shows poor oral health is connected to the development of pneumonia, diabetes and heart disease, and McConnell adds it can actually affect pregnant women and cause or be related to lower birthrate or other birth complications.


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During Black History Month, the American Heart Association is emphasizing the significance of heart health education and establishing a heritage of wellness among people of color.

Heart disease caused more than 8,500 deaths in Arkansas in 2021, making it the number one cause of mortality in the state.

Dr. Anthony M. Fletcher, an interventional cardiologist at CHI St. Vincent in Little Rock, said Arkansas ranks in the top five in the nation, for deaths from cardiovascular disease, whether it be stroke, heart attacks or heart failure. He emphasized prevention includes recognizing the risk factors and then taking action.

"What I would tell Arkansans is that we need to know those numbers, weight, blood pressure, sugar level, cholesterol level, waist circumference," Fletcher outlined. "Those are very important numbers. You keep those numbers controlled, you'll be less likely to succumb from cardiovascular disease. "

Fletcher stressed the importance of getting regular health screenings. He recommended people visit their primary care physician or local clinics early in life for checkups. He noted cardiovascular disease could be prevented through education and modest lifestyle changes such as exercising 150 minutes a week, eating healthy foods, and managing blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association, 90% of people who suffer cardiac arrest are outside a hospital. Fletcher pointed out the importance of all people knowing how to do CPR, because if performed immediately, it can triple a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival.

"Recently in Arkansas, we passed legislation encouraging students to be trained in CPR before they graduate," observed. "I think that's a national campaign that's picking up momentum, so that everybody who's graduating learns how to do CPR. And obviously, if the children know, they can spread that on to their family members."

Fletcher added CPR has gone from the pumping and the breathing to just hands-only CPR. He suggested recognizing the patient's breathing, assessing for a pulse, seeking assistance to calling 911 and initiating chest compressions.

"People who have heart attacks, 33% of them never get to the hospital because of the fact that they have an arrhythmogenic event, and sudden death," Fletcher explained. "CPR will help maintain that individual until help can get there."


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A new program in a Washington public library system is helping people monitor their blood pressure at home.

The American Heart Association has collaborated with Timberland Regional Library for the "Libraries with Heart" program, which allows people to check out at-home blood pressure monitoring kits.

Andrea Heisel, content and access director for Timberland Regional Library, said in the communities they serve, people sometimes have to travel long distances to get to the nearest doctor, or even a store offering a blood pressure monitoring machine.

"Getting these into people's hands so they can take them home and use them at their own convenience is another amazing resource that libraries can offer to people," Heisel explained. "We're just really happy to be able to offer that to our rural communities, especially."

Monitoring blood pressure is important for ensuring people have healthy hearts and preventing serious threats like heart failure and stroke. Timberland Regional Library has 29 libraries across five counties in southwest Washington.

Karissa LaClair, director of stroke program quality for Washington state-based Multicare Health System, which supports the program, said having a way to test blood pressure at home is important.

"Patients may have a 'white coat syndrome,' where they're really nervous and they experience stress when they're in the doctor's office," LaClair pointed out. "They have a chance to take the kit home and monitor their blood pressure there. Or maybe they have a family history of high blood pressure and they want to watch and see what their blood pressure is."

LaClair noted nearly half of Washingtonians have high blood pressure, but it is controllable through such means as medications, lifestyle changes and a healthy diet. She encourages people to follow up with their medical provider for a proper diagnosis after checking their blood pressure.