Letter to the editor: Westmoreland County seniors deserve better

I’ve been a nurse at Westmoreland Manor for 26 years.

Like every year, caregivers like me spent the holidays with your loved ones at the nursing home. We love our residents like they’re our own family. My only wish is more time to care for them.

Our elderly spent their lives building this county. They deserve more care time: less rushed showers and meals, time to get their hair and nails done and 20 more minutes for me to sit down with them and talk.

The problem is that we don’t have enough staff. As the best caregivers leave for better-paying jobs at for-profit homes, our county home spends more money on agency staff than recruiting and retaining full-time staff.

We can keep the best caregivers in Westmoreland if we offer more competitive wages. Other nursing homes across Pennsylvania already have.

Starting Jan. 1, Westmoreland Manor caregivers and other county employees are working under an expired union contract. All we’re asking for is the same cost-of-living increases that officials like the county commissioners have gotten over the past years. Essential county workers like me have seen less than 50 cents.

I’m asking for residents to call the commissioners at 724-830-3106 and let them know that county resident care and public services are a top priority. Our families and our most vulnerable depend on them. That’s where we want our taxpayer money to go.

Carol Marol

Penn Township, Westmoreland County