John Edwards Walks in the Shoes of New York Nursing Home Worker Elaine Ellis


As part of SEIU’s program to ensure that presidential candidates better understand workers’ everyday challenges, Sen. John Edwards on April 11th walked a day in the shoes of SEIU member Elaine Ellis. His time with her began with an early morning breakfast and continued with rounds at the nursing home where Ellis works.

© Belinda Gallegos - Sen. John Edwards serves breakfast to a resident at the Sarah Neuman Nursing Home in New York on April 11 with SEIU Member Elaine Ellis.

About Elaine:
  • Member of SEIU Local 1199 in New York
  • Certified Nursing Assistant
  • Has worked at the Sarah Neuman Nursing Home in New York for more than 18 years
  • For 10 of those 18 years, worked 16-hour days - five days a week - at two jobs at two separate nursing homes. Worked 7 am to 3 pm at Sarah Neuman and then 4 pm to midnight at Manhattanville Nursing Home
  • Has four grown children, one of whom is on active duty with the U.S. Navy and was recently deployed to the Gulf region
- More about Elaine
- Elaine’s post on the Edwards blog
- Diary post on the Edwards blog

All Candidates Invited to Walk A Day in a Member’s Shoes
“Walk a Day in My Shoes” is about making sure politicians truly know what the real world is like for the rest of us. SEIU members are inviting all candidates for political office to spend time in our lives, accompanying us on the job and spending time at home with our families.
- SEIU video on YouTube
- Good Morning America video
- Press release
- ABC News story
- Associated Press story

Elaine Ellis: “Every day I bathe, dress, feed and care for nine patients before many people are awake. Now that he’s cared for patients with me, I think Senator Edwards has a better understanding of what it’s like to work in a nursing home. I also think he has a deeper appreciation for what people like me go through to give our families a future.”

Tell the candidates what life is like in your shoes »

SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger: “It’s hard to govern for working people if you don’t know what it’s like to be one. We think it’s important that all presidential candidates take this opportunity to spend time witnessing firsthand what it’s like for working people today.”