Letter to the editor: Nursing homes need state help

Nursing homes and other senior care providers remain at the epicenter of this pandemic and desperately need funding. For these facilities, covid-19 remains a 24-hour challenge, but they’re running out of resources and need help from Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania’s state government must provide immediate financial support so nursing home facilities can purchase personal protective equipment, pay for government-mandated testing and hire and retain skilled personnel. This can be done because our state government is sitting on $1 billion in federal CARES Act funding. This money must be released now to help care for our frontline workers and our residents, who remain vulnerable to this virus.

It’s disappointing that Gov. Tom Wolf did not make long-term care one of his priorities for the fall legislative session. At a time when hospitals are not stressed by covid-19, the pandemic remains a serious threat in long-term care facilities. Yet our members continue to be asked to do more with no new funding.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly must take steps immediately to ensure nursing homes have the emergency financial support necessary to help us save lives.

Anne Henry

Mechanicsburg