Nursing care in Pennsylvania is heading towards crisis

Beaver County is aging quickly, just like the whole of Pennsylvania. In fact, by 2030, one in three Pennsylvanians will be over 65 years old. This means that over the next few years, health care for seniors will become even more important.

But now we are heading towards a crisis around home care.

That's because Pennsylvania's home caregivers are significantly fewer than people who do the same job in West Virginia and Ohio. Medicaid reimbursement rates are set by states, and due to the Pennsylvania rate, there are not enough caregivers to serve all seniors who desperately need care at home. Already, more than 112,500 caregiver shifts are overlooked in Pennsylvania each month.

I have been a caregiver since 1991. I have been caring for both my mother and grandmother. I work in a lifestyle therapy setting and for the past few years I have been working as a home caregiver.

These jobs are not easy and there is no pay, but they are very important. Seniors everywhere, including here in Beaver County, want to stay in their homes, but that's possible if they can get the help they need. Whether it's just preparing meals, bathing, getting out of bed, or allowing caregivers to stay at home. The difference in costs is also incredible. On average, home care costs $4,957 per month, while nursing homes cost more than double the cost at $10,403.

Currently, elected Harrisburg officials are discussing the state's budget, and it is absolutely crucial to ultimately fund Pennsylvania caregivers. The governor conducted a research conducted on the issue and the results were clear. The survey recommended a 23% increase in interest rates for individual support services (PAs) so that workers are paid fairly and older people can receive the care they need.

For no reason, Governor Shapiro's budget ignored the advice of his own research, and his budget proposals included a reduction in buckets for caregivers, not even close to actual solutions.

However, this issue has nothing to do with politics. It simply involves investing in the vital workforce of our state and treating it with the dignity that is worthy of the elderly. Two Beaver County Councillors, state Sen. Vogel and state Sen. Josh Kyle, each seated on the key appropriations committee and must act with colleagues on either side of the aisle.

I know I can make more money from another job, but I am deeply interested in caring for my clients and my mother. Home caregivers are absolutely essential to our community, and Pennsylvania needs to correct this crisis before it gets worse.

Teresa Gor is a longtime home caregiver in Beaver County.