Pandemic, lack of funding imperil Pa. assisted living providers

Because the COVID-19 pandemic risk to our well being and economic system nonetheless rages on, nobody is extra on the entrance traces of the pandemic than seniors and caregivers.

As the manager director of the Pennsylvania Assisted Dwelling Affiliation, I’ve witnessed the response of our private care and assisted residing caregivers — I couldn’t be prouder of them. We’re not nursing properties. Our members present seniors with an unbiased residing setting and personalised care 24 hours a day, seven days per week. But the help for senior residing suppliers, notably within the American Rescue Plan is abysmal. Lower than 2% of funding is being allotted to assisted residing facilities.

Within the face of woefully gradual aid handed in Congress final December, coupled with over $15 billion in losses as a consequence of elevated bills, and report low occupancy charges, the non-public care and assisted residing suppliers we name dwelling for our mother and father and grandparents are in disaster. What does this imply for these communities we name dwelling? Over half of non-public care and assisted residing suppliers anticipate closures inside the subsequent 12 months if significant aid doesn’t come.