HARTFORD, Conn. — At the state Capitol Monday, lawmakers and other leaders laid out how a tragedy led to new protections for home healthcare workers.
Despite a growing demand in Connecticut for home healthcare workers as more people look to age at home, very little has been done to secure their safety until now.
“We are making this investment because of the tragic death of Joyce Grayson,” said Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz at a news conference in the state Capitol Monday.
Visiting nurse Joyce Grayson was 63 years old when she was murdered in October of 2023 while caring for patient Michael Reese inside the sex offender’s halfway house in Willimantic.
“It’s the right thing to do for Joyce and her family,” added Gov. Ned Lamont.
A state grant of $6 million, funded with leftover COVID American Rescue Plan dollars, aims to increase protections for home healthcare workers. Specifically, the money will fund emergency training, panic buttons, a dedicated emergency hotline, a buddy escort system, GPS tracking of workers and a more robust pre-visit risk assessment.
State Sen. Martha Marx is also, herself, a home healthcare worker.
“If she had had that device where she could have pushed that button so the whole neighborhood could have heard something was happening. Or, I know she was missing for a while, where they could have known where she was. I have to think that yes, it would have helped her,” explained Marx.
Many argue that what would have helped Joyce Grayson the most was if her accused killer stayed behind bars. Michael Reese was on probation after serving a 14-year sentence for stabbing and sexually assaulting a woman in New Haven in 2006.
“Keep people who are known dangers to society should stay behind in correctional facilities that keep the rest of us safe,” said Lamont. “We take that very seriously going forward. We don’t always get it right.”
When asked if the Department of Correction and judicial branch did their job, Lamont replied, “I don’t know the story on this one but it didn’t work, did it?”
The new law doesn’t kick in until October, but agencies can begin submitting applications for funding this week.
After her killing, Joyce Grayson’s family filed a lawsuit against her employer, Elara Caring and OSHA fined the company $163,000. Elara Caring has continued to deny responsibility.
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Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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