Caregivers want more money in Washington budget

By Elizabeth Wynne Johnson
Northwest News Network

Advocates for nursing home residents and workers are making appearances around Washington state this week, trying to raise awareness about the lack of funding for long term care.

In Washington state, Medicaid is paying like it’s 1999. That’s bad for folks who find themselves living in one of the state’s 200-plus nursing homes or long-term care facilities.

Washington’s Medicaid reimbursement rates haven’t changed in seven years. But costs are up for everything from prescription drugs to labor. Dozens of facilities have gone bankrupt and closed their doors. The ones that are left are struggling, says Adam Glickman, a spokesman for the union that represents long-term care workers.

“Inadequate funding contributes to low wages and benefits for workers, high turnover and a difficulty in nursing homes to be able to find enough staff to provide quality care,” says Glickman.

That’s what Jewell Day sees as activities director at a long-term care facility near Spokane. As Day puts it, most people who come to nursing homes don’t want to be there. Without enough staff to draw out the residents and give them things to do, he says it’s a pretty bleak existence.

“We’ll peek our head in the door and say, hey we’ve got bingo going on … do you want to come down? And they tend to light up. And that brings color into their world,” says Day.

Day spoke at one of several media events this week, aimed at raising public awareness about the funding issue. He was joined by 76 year old Isaac “Bud” Henson. Henson lives in a long-term care facility and gets around in a wheelchair. He says he’s noticed the cutbacks in staff, and doesn’t want to lose the shopping trips, the bingo games, and the performances that spice up the day.

“We like the activities as they are now, if fact we’d like to do more of them. And if they take the funding away, there’s no place else to cut. Activities is not a necessity, but they sure make it a lot nicer,” says Henson.

Washington’s nursing home funding situation is unique in the Northwest. In Idaho and Oregon, Medicaid reimbursement rates keep pace with inflation.

Advocates are asking for $10 to $14 million in additional funding. The Washington state Senate put out a proposed budget this week that would increase the amount by six million. It’s a start, say activitists, but they’re hoping to see that number go higher before the budget is finalized.