Page 7 - LeadingAgePA - Our Faces. Our Stories.

Our Faces. Our Stories.
7
For 15 years, I’ve been fortunate
to have worked in a Living
Independence for the Elderly, or
LIFE program setting, with seniors
who were blossoming before my
eyes. While we’ve taken on more
challenges because we love to serve
those who need our help, we haven’t
had an increase in our Medicaid
reimbursement rate for years. As our
services expand to meet the needs
of individuals with mental health
concerns, we must hire experts to
support their unique needs. We now
employ behavioral health specialists
and addiction specialists. We’ve had
to do more with less.
And, so many people need our help.
I’ve been to family meetings where a
participant is holding the hand of our
social worker under the table because
today is the day she is telling her kids
that she doesn’t want to go through
chemotherapy for the third time, and
I’ve seen participants who have a
renewed sense of hope and purpose
in their lives.
Unfortunately, so many health care
professionals left the industry during
the pandemic.
Community LIFE needs an increase
in Medicaid funding to rebuild the
professional resources necessary
to provide care, establish training
programs and increase wages for
staff, including our home care aides.
Our staff members care for our
participants and always go above and
beyond. Far too often, we can’t keep
the people we need to achieve our
challenging mission. Aides work hard,
often in difficult settings, and we
need to retain them.
KIRSTEN CROWE
Director of Operations, Community LIFE, Pittsburgh
This work is
essential.
L