More than 200 Advocates Tell Lawmakers: Pennsylvania Must Invest Now to Protect Life-Sustaining, Cost-Effective In-Home Care

Harrisburg, PA (May 2, 2023) – More than 200 providers, supporters and recipients of home-based care came to the state Capitol today with the Pennsylvania Homecare Association (PHA) to call for immediate action, meaningful investment, and additional supports to address ongoing, crisis-level workforce shortages in home-based care. Today, hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, including children with medically-complex needs, adults with disabilities, and seniors, are struggling to access the critical, life-sustaining care they need to remain safe, healthy, and independent in their homes and communities.

“Nearly everyone agrees that seniors and individuals with disabilities want – and deserve – to age in their homes and communities,” said Teri Henning, Esq, CEO of PHA.

“In-home care costs less, is strongly preferred, and has better outcomes. Seniors over 65 are the fastest growing population in Pennsylvania – by far. Despite these facts, home care has been chronically underfunded, leading to widespread staffing shortages, agencies unable to accept patients or provide the full range of necessary care, and far too many patients and consumers who cannot get the care they so desperately need and deserve.

PHA was honored to be joined today by home care leaders and recipients, including a mother of an adult son with Muscular Dystrophy, who cannot get the hours of care that he needs to remain safe at home; a home care provider, consumer and spouse, who has been unable to get necessary home care for her own family member; and a longtime recipient of home care who relies on her nursing team to provide 16-hours of skilled nursing care each day. Each of these individuals credited their caregivers for their (or their family member’s) ability to live safely in their own home. All cited a lack of funding as a major challenge threatening their care and safety.

“With the proper investments, quality home care can and will grow and thrive in Pennsylvania,” said Henning. Home is where people want to age, heal, and receive care. It provides better outcomes for patients and consumers, at less than half the cost of institutional care.

The problem is clear; agencies simply cannot recruit and retain enough qualified caregivers to meet demand. We are calling on all legislators and Governor Shapiro to support increased funding for in-home care.

It’s time to elevate home care.

About PHA… The Pennsylvania Homecare Association is a statewide membership organization of nearly 700 homecare, home health and hospice providers, and supporting organizations. PHA members provide quality care and serve as advocates for their patients and clients on a variety of healthcare related issues. PHA and its members work to improve professional standards and ensure access to quality homecare throughout the Commonwealth. To learn more, visit www.pahomecare.org.