Heart of the Matter Blog

As the FY 2024-25 state budget deadline approaches, LeadingAge PA continues to advocate tirelessly for additional funding for Pennsylvania nursing homes and Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) providers.

The 2024 LeadingAge PA conference at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Poconos brought together professionals to ignite change and spark inspiration, celebrating connections, gratitude, and deeper engagement through keynote speakers Clint Pulver, Heather R. Younger, and Michael Easter.

The LeadingAge PA annual conference, held from May 7th to 9th in the Poconos region, is a must-attend event for aging services professionals eager to stay ahead with the latest trends. Featuring diverse educational sessions and ample networking opportunities, attendees can collaborate, learn, and explore innovative products and services to enhance care quality.

LeadingAge PA has developed a toolkit to aid aging service providers in fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within their organizations. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive integration of these principles, going beyond general initiatives to create genuine inclusivity and belonging. The resource aims to support organizations in navigating toward a future where differences are celebrated and barriers to inclusion are dismantled.

Workforce challenges remain one of the most common struggles reported by LeadingAge PA members. This Careers in Aging month, why not take the opportunity to start fresh by evaluating current trends and patterns, and employing new strategies to positively impact your organization? Analyzing a workforce strategy doesn’t have to be a lengthy, complicated task; there are many resources available through LeadingAge and LeadingAge PA to support those efforts.

Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) is a unique aging services program designed for individuals who wish and are able to age in their homes and communities while receiving needed support. The model is a perfect fit for many, but it is at risk due to insufficient reimbursement and the need for a reliable rate-setting process.

According to CMS provider data, over 3,000 Pennsylvania nursing home beds have been delicensed over the last decade. Even more concerning? 84% of those beds were delicensed within just the last four years.