Bertha also trusts that her health benefits will be there to help her manage her medical conditions, including high blood pressure, a thyroid condition and glaucoma. Her benefits help her stay mentally healthy, too. “It’s not easy to balance the stress from our job with home life,” she explains. “That’s why mental health assistance is so important. So many people I know don’t like to talk about it because of the stigma, but that can isolate them.” She’s received confidential mental health help through the Fund’s Wellness Member Assistance Program and participated in the “Caring for Those Who Care for Others” wellness workshops for Home Care workers. “Those benefits really helped me be at peace,” she says. To stay physically active, Bertha regularly takes long walks. “I enjoy walking around like a tourist,” she says with a laugh. “It helps me break from my routine and it’s good exercise!” She’s even using her education benefits to study psychology at LaGuardia Community College. “If you understand yourself and how to control your emotions, it’s the biggest gift you can give yourself,” she explains.

“We are in the right place with 1199SEIU because all of the benefits they provide help us so much,” Bertha adds. “We just have to make sure we are not afraid to look for the help they can give us.”