Pennsylvania in-home nursing care heading for crisis
Caretakers call for nurses to administer foot care at home. Here’s why
Claudia Dunagan’s 98-year-old mother lost her foot care nurse. Now she wants the General Assembly to change the law.
Beaver County, like the entire state of Pennsylvania, is aging quickly. In fact, by 2030, 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians will be 65 years or older. That means that in the coming years, health care for our seniors will become even more critical.
But right now, we’re heading for a crisis regarding in-home care.
That’s because in-home caregivers in Pennsylvania are paid significantly less than people who do the same job in West Virginia or Ohio. Medicaid reimbursement rates are set by each state, and because of Pennsylvania’s rates, there simply are not enough caregivers to serve all the seniors who desperately need care in their homes. Already, more than 112,500 caregiver shifts are missed every single month in Pennsylvania.
I’ve been a caregiver since 1991. I’ve cared for both my mother and grandmother in their homes, I’ve worked in assisted living settings, and for the last several years, I have worked as an in-home caregiver.
These jobs are not easy, they’re not well-paid, but they are incredibly important. Seniors everywhere, including here in Beaver County, want to remain in their homes, but that’s only possible if they can get the help they need. Whether it’s help with preparing meals, bathing, or even just getting out of bed, caregivers allow people to stay in their homes. The cost difference is staggering, too. On average, in-home care costs $4,957 per month, while nursing homes cost more than double that, at $10,403.
Right now, our elected officials in Harrisburg are debating the state budget, and it’s absolutely critical that they finally fund Pennsylvania’s caregivers. The governor had a study conducted on this issue, and the results were crystal clear. The study recommended a 23% rate increase for Personal Assistance Services (PAS) to ensure workers are paid fairly and seniors are able to get the care they need.
I don’t know why, but Gov. Shapiro’s budget ignored his own study’s advice, and his budget proposal included a drop in the bucket for caregivers, not even close to a real solution.
This issue has nothing to do with politics, though. It’s simply about investing in a critical workforce for our state and treating seniors with the dignity they deserve. Two Beaver County legislators, state Sen. Elder Vogel, Jr. and state Rep. Josh Kail, each sit on the critical Appropriations Committees, and we need them, along with their colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to act.
I know I could make more money in a different job, but I care deeply about caring for my clients and my own mother. In-home caregivers are absolutely essential for our communities, and Pennsylvania needs to fix this crisis before it gets even worse.
Theresa Goe is a longtime in-home caregiver in Beaver County.
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