As National Nursing Home Week begins on May 9, this is a good time for Pennsylvanians to salute the dedicated work of caregivers throughout our commonwealth who, under difficult circumstances, provide compassionate care and services to our most vulnerable seniors and persons with disabilities. This is also a time to reflect on how we as a society care for our nation's frail, elderly and disabled.
Attending to another person's health and well-being remains one of the finest and noblest callings, and the men and women staffing Pennsylvania's 720 nursing homes demonstrate daily their commitment to helping others.
While we commend our caregivers and other nursing home staff, it's essential to note that there are not enough skilled nursing staff - licensed nurses and certified nurse assistants - to serve our current and forecast aging population. This is emerging as one of the most critical problems facing Pennsylvania and the United States' health care system.
We find ourselves dangerously short of qualified nursing staff, just as the front edge of the baby-boom retirement wave approaches and will eventually increase the overall demand for skilled nursing care. Maintaining ready access to quality, skilled nursing care and ensuring that an adequate number of caregivers exists won't just happen - it will occur only if we as a society decide that the proper investment in long term care isn't just an option, but a necessity.
The fact that Mother's Day coincides with the beginning of National Nursing Home Week should give us pause to consider the many challenges to long term care that need to be addressed so that our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, friends and neighbors receive the care and dignity they deserve in their golden years. Enriching Every Day, our theme this year, should reflect our appreciation to seniors for their life experiences and valuable contributions to the overall community and our well-being.
This week, let's make it a point to consider what we, as a state and as a nation, must do to strengthen our system of nursing care, and recognize the talented and compassionate individuals who work day in and day out in our nursing homes. Without a doubt, our caregivers are indispensable. They ensure a better quality of life for people in need while also providing peace of mind to their families and friends.
Kori C. Bingaman is a registered nurse and the administrator for Brookline Manor in Mifflintown.
