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Nursing homes

shortchanged

To the editor:

Pennsylvania's funding of Medical Assistance for nursing home residents would not be increased under Gov. Ed Rendell's budget proposal. This jeopardizes the ability of Pennsylvania's elderly and disabled to receive the level of care we all want and expect for our loved ones.

As a caregiver, I could understand if under-funding was a one-year problem. But for the past three years, the commonwealth has paid nursing homes nearly $290 million less than was owed for the cost of care for Medical Assistance residents.

Many nursing homes are struggling to meet the medical, physical and social needs of residents, since two out of every three are on Medical Assistance.

Each day in towns across the state, the low-income elderly have to wait for nursing-home beds because of chronic government under-funding. This is a silent, untold tragedy that is taking place every day.

This problem will only continue to grow, since Pennsylvania has the second-highest percentage of people over the age of 85.

The proposed budget implies that the state is investing in programs that allow seniors to receive care at home. Staying at home is certainly what most people desire, but for the most ill and elderly who need round-the-clock care, it's not realistic or safe.

To make matters worse, someone has to pay when the state fails to cover even the costs of inflation for Medical Assistance nursing-home residents.

That someone often ends up being those few residents in the nursing home who have the resources to pay for their own care.

It's an all-too-familiar story: seniors and their families watch helplessly as their life savings are wiped out to cover the rising costs of nursing home care due to Pennsylvania's inability to live up to its responsibilities.

Statewide, for every Medical Assistance resident receiving care in a nursing home, that nursing home loses an average of $12 a day, or $4,300 a year.

People seem to think we can keep going forever with less and less. We can't. The underfunding of Medicaid for nursing home residents will wreak havoc. I urge Harrisburg to make fair funding for nursing home residents a budgetary priority.

We can't afford not to. La'Kisha Gray

Philadelphia

Budget cuts hurt jobless

To the editor:

Thousands of workers and job-seekers in Pennsylvania could be impacted by continuing cuts in federal funding for employment and worker training programs.

This is the wrong part of the federal budget to be cutting, and the wrong time to be cutting it.

Pennsylvania has maintained its commitment to helping people obtain employment and advance their careers, but the federal government is seriously jeopardizing those efforts with draconian funding cuts that could curtail or eliminate many programs and services that Pa CareerLink centers offer.

Federal workforce development funds have been cut in the past five consecutive years, and funding cuts have been threatened again this year.

All this comes at a time of extreme economic uncertainty, when the jobs of many Americans are in jeopardy and unemployed Pennsylvanians face their greatest challenge in finding work.

Currently, because of the federal funding cuts, about half of Pennsylvania's 22 workforce investment boards have no money for job-training.

The federal government needs to follow the example we set here in Pennsylvania.

I urge anyone who is concerned with Pennsylvania's economy to contact your U.S. congressman and senators to urge a return of full federal funding for these important programs.
State Rep. Dan Surra
Kersey

Thanks from Habitat

To the editor:

This is a note to give a great big thank you to all the volunteers who came out to the Potter County Habitat for Humanity home in Coudersport last weekend and did such a fantastic job of helping.

We had a total of 18 people there who spent either several hours or the whole day working on the house. We were able to accomplish many of the jobs that were on the "to-do" list, although there still remains a lot to be done.

Several items were worked on: cleaning, vinyl flooring, electrical and plumbing work, painting, landscaping, trim work and kitchen cabinets.

A new work list will be prepared and a date set for our next work day.

Again, your hard work is appreciated so very much, and we look forward to involving our volunteers in helping deserving families through Habitat for Humanity.
Jim and Charlotte Blain
Potter County Chapter
Habitat for Humanity

Headline 'a bit misleading'

Dear editor:

I am writing in response to a front-page article in the May 17 edition of Endeavor News entitled "Victims' Services Office May Close." This headline was perhaps a bit misleading.

I want to clarify to Cameron County residents that the office that may close is the Citizens Against Physical, Sexual and Emotional Abuse (CAPSEA) office. The Cameron County Victim Services Office is NOT in danger of closing.

The Victim Services Office, located on the second floor of the Cameron County Courthouse, provides services to and upholds the rights of victims of crime in Cameron County.

The office is fully funded by the Pennsylvania Rights and Services Act (RASA) grant. Services provided to victims and witnesses of adult offenders include, but are not limited to, Court Accompaniment, Updated Case Status, Advocacy, Referrals to other agencies. Sentencing Notification, Prisoner Release Notification, Supportive Counseling, Crisis Intervention and Victims Compensation Assistance Program.

If you are a victim of crime in Cameron County, please contact the Victim Services Office at (814) 486-9301 for more information on victims' rights and services available.
Heather Thwing
Victim/Witness
Coordinator