Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) have begun circulating a letter to other lawmakers urging support of the SENIOR Act. Introduced last month, H.R. 6530 helps to support senior caregivers through two critical investments: (1) creating a $10 billion caregiver sustainability fund similar to the Provider Relief Fund (PRF), and (2) establishing $1.25 billion in federal grants for workforce development that would provide four-year grants of up to $1 million per entity.
The legislation (Safeguarding Elderly Needs for Infrastructure and Occupational Resources) came directly at Argentum’s request, following months of advocacy efforts to educate lawmakers on the challenges facing senior living residents and caregivers.
Lawmakers began circulating a dear colleague letter today, encouraging more members of the House of Representatives to sign on as co-sponsors. The full letter reads as follows:
Co-Sponsor the Bipartisan SENIOR Act, H.R. 6530
Supporting Organizations: ArgentumDear Colleague,
Every day, 10,000 Americans turn 65. In just 12 years, for the first time in our nation’s history, there will be more seniors than children. Nearly 70% of these seniors will require long-term care, yet by 2025 there will be a shortage of 1.4 million caregivers. COVID-19 has only worsened and created greater urgency to shoring up this critical workforce. Since March 2020, senior care facilities have lost over 380,000 caregivers and 96% of assisted living facilities face staffing shortages today.
Further, assisted living providers have experienced $30 billion in uncompensated losses throughout the pandemic. Despite minimal federal relief, senior caregivers paid out of pocket to protect residents and staff for PPE and PCR tests, heroes pay, staffing needs, and CDC compliance. Over half these facilities are currently operating at a loss and face the risk of closure.
Two million seniors choose assisted living, independent living, or memory care residences as their home. Assisted living provides 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week of senior care with professionally trained staff. The average age of an assisted living resident is 85. All residents need assistance with activities of daily living and 45% have cognitive impairment. Assisted living offers crucial care, social engagement, security, and choice at half the cost of nursing home care, and 20% less than traditional in-home care. It is critical for Congress to protect this choice of senior care to ensure it will continue for tomorrow’s seniors.
The SENIOR Act (H.R. 6530) would preserve seniors’ choice of long-term care by sustaining assisted living and memory care providers in the wake of COVID-19 and renewing America’s investment in frontline senior caregivers. H.R. 6530 builds upon existing workforce programs that haven proven successful to grow the senior caregiving workforce. Specifically, it bolsters workforce development programs within the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) by emphasizing geriatric care and the needs of this vulnerable population. Additionally, the bill establishes a Caregiver Sustainability Fund (CSF) to ensure that senior caregivers who are still struggling financially due to extreme COVID-related losses and insufficient federal relief can keep their doors open.
If you would like to cosponsor H.R. 6530, please contact Elya Taichman (Elya.Taichman@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Trahan’s office or Jacqueline Collie (Jacqueline.Collie@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office.
Sincerely,
Lori Trahan, Brian Fitzpatrick
Members of Congress
We Need Your Help! We need as many constituent letters as possible urging support of this legislation. Pre-written letters are available here that can be sent by any senior living advocate: a resident or their family member, a frontline or administrative staff member, or anyone else passionate about the residents for whom we care.
