
NEENAH — We are approaching a demographic shift in Wisconsin where the average age is increasing. It’s a hard truth, but it’s one we all face: You, and everyone you know and love, are going to get older.
When the time comes to start making decisions about a nursing home or assisted living facility, for yourself or for a parent or loved one, you’ll probably want to be assured of two things. First, that the staff there are competent, compassionate and qualified; second, that it’s integrated into the community and near to friends and family.
Let’s face another truth together: Nursing homes have been closing across the state of Wisconsin. Part of this is due to our aging population choosing to remain in the home and independent for longer. This is a good thing.
But another factor playing into this is the low reimbursement rate these facilities have historically been faced with. This makes it more difficult to fill openings with skilled workers and, yes, forces some closures. As the next wave of our families gets older, we need to know that even under these parameters, we will have good options close to home.
Now, for the uplifting part. On an 11-4 party-line vote by the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, state Republicans have pumped $231.6 million in new funding into direct caregiver wages, responding to that need. It’s a step in the right direction toward addressing both the workforce issue in nursing homes as well as helping to stop the closures we’re being faced with.
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