HARRISBURG – Legislation authored by Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) to encourage more employees to join the long-term care workforce was approved with bipartisan support by the Senate today.
“Too many of our families, including mine, have faced the difficult decision of moving a parent or grandparent into a long-term care center,” Argall said. “The professionals who make sure they are cared for are facing increasing challenges because of workforce shortages.”
Senate Bill 115, which Argall sponsored with Sen. Michele Brooks (R-50), would allow individuals without a high school diploma or GED to take a skills competency examination to receive their long-term care employee certification. This bill was approved by a bipartisan vote of 47-3 by the Senate. It now advances to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Additional legislation authored by Argall to address the long-term care workforce crisis was approved by the Senate Education Committee yesterday. Senate Bill 114 would expand both the availability of long-term care training courses for nurse aides and the eligibility for individuals to take the nurse aide competency exam. The bill was approved by a vote of 7-4. It now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
Senior advocates strongly support these changes, noting that they would remove barriers for those seeking employment at long-term care centers while still ensuring employees are well-qualified.
The number of Pennsylvanians aged 65 and older is expected to double by the year 2040. Despite this sharp increase, labor statistics revealed that from 2019 to 2022, Pennsylvania saw a 14% decrease in long-term care professionals.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger