A Lifelong Commitment to Care
For 33 years, I have been a licensed practical nurse, dedicating my life to the care of individuals in nursing homes. This work is not just a job for me; it is a passion driven by a deep love for my residents. I find immense fulfillment in helping people recover, regain their independence, and, in some cases, return home. There is no greater reward than knowing I played a role in someone’s healing and dignity.
The Changing Landscape of Nursing Homes
Over the years, I have witnessed a troubling shift in the perception of nursing homes. When people discuss the crisis in these facilities, they often point fingers at "bad facilities" or "uncaring workers." However, this narrative is far from the truth. The real issue lies in systemic challenges that affect every nursing home across the state. The staffing crisis is not the fault of a few individuals but an industry-wide problem that we, as front-line workers, understand deeply and know how to address.
Evolving Needs and Shrinking Workforce
Today's nursing home residents are not just elderly individuals. Many are younger people recovering from surgeries, battling chronic illnesses, or living with conditions such as behavioral health challenges that make home care unsafe. Yet, the workforce needed to support this growing demand is shrinking. We are stretched thin, doing as much as we can, as fast as we can, with as little as we can. This situation is neither safe nor sustainable, and it falls short of the care we would expect for our own families.
From Calling to Business
Nursing homes used to feel like a calling, not a business. In the past, staff stayed because they loved the work and the people they served. Now, many of us bring our own stethoscopes and pay out of pocket for tools we need — and in many cases, even our own healthcare. Imagine working in healthcare and not being able to afford care for yourself or your family. That is the reality for many of us today.
A Path Forward
The good news is that this crisis is fixable. We need to transform nursing home jobs into roles that can sustain a family without requiring multiple side gigs. These jobs should be among the best in our communities because the work we do is among the most important. This means offering competitive wages, strong benefits, better training, and real accountability to ensure funding is directed where it is needed: to care.
Financial Reallocation for Better Care
In one year alone, Pennsylvania nursing homes spent $7 million on costly agency staff who, in my opinion, do not know residents as well as permanent caregivers do. That same amount could have hired nearly 20,000 full-time Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) at $18 an hour or provided current CNAs with more than a $5 an hour raise. This investment would help retain the dedicated caregivers who got us through the pandemic and are now burning out rapidly.
Listening to Those Who Know Best
We can improve our nursing home system, but we must start by listening to the people who know this work best — the ones who have shown up for decades and are still showing up today because we care too much to walk away. It is time for meaningful change that reflects the value of the work we do and the lives we touch every day.