I am 55 years old and have been working in a residential care facility for 8 years. I have never been offered heath insurance. I am with a direct care provider for developmentally disabled. I am also suffering from R.A., a painful affliction of the joints. I cannot afford to seek medical attention. I am only paid minimum wage. I am working full-time but don’t even get vacations. I am facing the fact that I will not be able to work very much longer. what is going to happen to me when I apply for disability? how will I pay my rent, food, and other expenses? I work very hard and a 48 hour shift. Most weekends I don’t even have a chance to sleep because clients are nocturnal. My boss deducts 10 hours sleep time from my pay. Most of the time I don’t get to sleep at all. she is very unsympathetic to my ordeal each and every weekend working 48 hours with little or no sleep. who do I turn to? I feel I am just going to become one more of America’s homeless and I have worked hard all my life. I am reaching out for help - is there anyone who knows what it is I can do to make some choices to resolve my painful hours at work with little pay and no vacations - no pay for time not asleep but indeed working? I know she is very unfeeling and I get nowhere with her when I complain. How am I supposed to give quality care to these unfortunate victims that was inflicted on them for nothing they have done, just fate. I love my clients but I am really not giving the best care due to no sleep and no help from my employer.