OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – A man is riding his wheelchair from Neenah to Madison to advocate for a group of people who help him out every single day.
Carl Schulze told Local 5 News he became a quadriplegic about 18 years ago after a terrible accident at Oktoberfest in Appleton. He relies on his home health aides to help him with daily tasks and says their assistance allows him to live on his own.
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“If I didn’t have home health care aids, and I couldn’t find family to fill in the gaps, the only option would be an institution,” Schulze said about the importance of his home health aides. “A nursing home, if I’m lucky, a nice one.”
With the help of his aide Katelynn, Schulze is riding his wheelchair from Neenah to Madison to advocate for home health aides. He said there’s a lot of turnover in the profession, which makes it difficult for the people who receive the care. He said he’s also appalled by the average salary for this type of healthcare worker.
“From my perspective, it is insulting because what they do is help people have dignity and stay alive in their own environment,” he told Local 5 News. “It’s just shocking that people who take care of other humans are paid the worse in our society right now.”
According to Indeed.com, on average, home health aides in Wisconsin make $17.92 per hour.
Schulze’s journey to Madison will take several weeks. During each leg of the trip, he rides until the battery on his wheelchair dies. He’s usually able to make it 10 or 11 miles each day and hopes to make it to Madison by the final week of July or the first week of August.
He said he’s been in contact with at least one lawmaker to share his story and explain why advocating for home health aides is so important to him. He’s also connected with several groups that help and advocate for people with disabilities.
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He’s documenting his journey on his YouTube page as well.
“I’m trying to absolutely keep the same dedication and punctuality that they give me the respect of by completing this journey,” he said. “Someone has got to do it (stand up for home health aides) nobody is stepping up yet.”
