Advocacy
By Maddy Bynes, Special to Never Too Late A New Legislature Begins
preference of more than 80% of them. The services keep people out of more expensive support, like nursing homes. Often, if the older adults we assist do not receive the support they need in their homes, they come to the attention of Adult Protective Services for reported self- neglect. Without the preventative care of PCOA, older adults will require the care of other more expensive and intensive programs, such as those offered by the Arizona Long-Term Care System (ALTCS). Providing these home and community- based services is costly, and in recent years, the pandemic cost of living and minimum wage increases have turned an already competitive workforce into a dire shortage of direct care workers. Today, statewide over 1,700 people are waiting for service from their Area Agency on Aging with more than 250 of those being in Pima County. There are many factors that contribute to a shortage in workers, but a primary factor is pay and benefits for the job. The wages and benefits for direct care workers remains comparatively low for the skills and work required to deliver this vital care. With your help, we have made headway in addressing the disparities of funding within the long-term supportive services system for some time. Last year, we were fortunate that the Legislature appropriated $1 million of on-going funding and $2 million of one-time funding to address needed wage increases for the these key workers. This year, we are fighting to retain the $2 million of one-time funding appropriated last year.
Early last month Arizona’s new slate of elected officials took office and began their work representing the people of Arizona. This included Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Attorney General Kris Mayes, Treasurer Kimberly Yee, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, and Mine Inspector Paul Marsh. Arizona also welcomed its 56th Legislature in an opening session in early January. This 56th (version) of the Arizona Legislature is notably different in several ways from the 55th. There are a large number of new legislators, including 33% of the Senate and 51% of the House. With a large portion of the legislature being new, it is critical that we get to work right away help them understand the importance of our aging issues. Paramount among the issues is the direct care workforce. PCOA contracts with numerous direct care companies to provide vital services. And PCOA’s own in-home service company, PimaCare at Home, also provides these services. These home and community-based services, also known as HCBS, includes adult day health, assistance with bathing and dressing, meal preparation, shopping, bedlinen changing, caregiver respite, home nursing, and home delivered meals. These services are provided primarily in people’s homes by very dedicated direct care workers. These services are crucial to allowing people to age in their homes, which is the
With inflation at a record high rate of 12.1% in Arizona, it is critical that we continue to invest these dollars into sustaining current levels of service throughout our state, including right here at home in Pima County. Over the past three years, with funds provided by the Legislature, the Area Agencies on Aging in Arizona have been able to increase the number of clients receiving home and community-based services by 32%. Fueled by population growth, increased costs of services, and nearly a decade of stagnant funding prior to 2022, the waiting list for these services remains high. Without the continuation of the $2 million appropriated last legislative session, we would be forced to reduce service hours or number of clients we serve. With so many new legislators, we need your help to educate them! Make sure to visit advocate.pcoa.org today to TAKE ACTION and let your legislators know the importance of vulnerable older adults in our community. Thanks for all your past support and action. We hope we can count on you again this year. Together we will be successful!
Page 28 | February 2023, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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