September 25, 2025
ORLANDO – Members of 1199SEIU joined a listening tour hosted by Central Florida Public Media and WMFE to share the many challenges and rewards of working in nursing homes and caring for the region’s elderly.
The event was to help the non-profit media organization learn directly about the issues and emotions faced by long-term care workers, to then most accurately shape news coverage that’s shared with large radio and online audiences. Central Florida Public Media’s mission is to provide the region with “journalism and fact-based content that empower the community to better understand and participate in our diverse and complex world.”
During the session, about 20 members of 1199SEIU spoke about their dedication to their patients and commitment to providing quality care while faced with challenges of understaffing, supply shortages and wages too low to meet the rapidly rising costs of housing, insurance and essential family needs.
“You really have to love your patients to be successful and last in this job,” said long-time CNA and 1199SEIU Rank and File Executive Council Member Sophia Colley who organized and kicked off the event on behalf of her fellow caregivers. “These are our parents, grandparents and other elderly loved ones who deserve to be cared for properly and live out their lives in dignity, but our healthcare system in Florida makes this very difficult.”
Caregivers spoke of spending their own money to buy patients clothing and other supplies, while facilities pay low wages, short-staff and try to cut benefits. In addition, the GOP majority in the Florida Legislature has been reducing staffing and safety standards in nursing homes for years, and the situation is expected to dramatically worsen when extreme Medicaid cuts pushed by the Trump Administration take effect.
Caregivers find it especially appalling that the massive budget cuts to healthcare services and jobs would be used to fund even more tax breaks for billionaires and big business.
“Our members work very hard for seniors, the sick and community members who really need the care, it’s terrible that some politicians just want to serve the already rich and powerful,” said Joy Scott, 1199SEIU Vice President. “I’m proud of our caregivers for their dedication and who spoke so eloquently on these issues. We appreciate the opportunity to share our stories and Central Florida Public Media’s great work to keep our community informed with important news and the real truth, even while it faces its own attacks from Tallahassee and the White House.”
Central Florida Public Media operates WMFE 90.7 FM, the region’s primary provider of National Public Radio programming, as well as other broadcast, streaming and online outlets. To learn more, visit www.cfpublic.org or www.wmfe.org.
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About 1199SEIU: 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest union of healthcare workers in the country representing more than 450,000 nurses and healthcare workers nationwide, including more than 35,000 in nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities throughout Florida.
