PA: Fifth most imbalanced state in the nation
Posted by Patti on October 18th, 2006 / 
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PHOENIXVILLE – Close to 20 people attended a conference held by Action Alliance of Senior Citizens regarding a report on lack of home care for Chester County senior citizens at the Episcopal House, 601 Center Street, Tuesday morning.
The report states that Pennsylvania, which is the second oldest state in the nation, ranks among the worst states in giving seniors the option of receiving care in their own homes instead of nursing homes.
In addition, the report states that Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation in nursing home residents, and 43rd in home care for senior citizens and people with disabilities, making it the fifth most imbalanced state in the nation.
According to Pedro Rodriguez, executive director, Action Alliance of Senior Citizens, the state’s long-term care system drives the elderly in Chester County, which is home to 50,000 senior citizens, into nursing homes, despite the fact that home care is less expensive and seniors would prefer to live at home.
The fact is that families don’t seem to think they have time to “deal” with having their elderly relatives living with them or at that their own homes. Especially if the family lives in another state. Home care is a cheaper alternative, A LOT cheaper. But it means work. It means hiring nurses and aides, through agencies or not. It means missing work if the aide calls out sick. It means making arrangements that are at times inconvenient. How many nursing homes residents REALLY need to be living in these places? If you think about it, very few. I believe this is a culture problem in the US. It’s easier to shove an elderly person into a nursing home and pass the buck off to the facility, then it is to keep the person at home. And as long as we have government programs that will pay for this it will continue to happen.
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October 18th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
How do we get jobs in the Philly area as a home health aide?
I cant find employment in spite of the article and penna’s position
as a state in need!
Any help would be great.
Much appreciated!
October 18th, 2006 at 10:20 pm
Have you applied at Home Health agencies? How about staffing agencies?
Drop your resume off at hospitals- they sometimes manage home health programs. Call the state dept. in charge of elderly affairs- they usually have a list of all the local groups that do home health.
Good luck.