For quite some time now Pennsylvania advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have been sounding the alarm about a shortage of direct support professionals.
Many families rely on these workers to help loved ones perform basic tasks such as bathing, dressing and eating.
The shortage of workers already was a problem before COVID-19 hit due to low pay and a rapidly aging population that outpaces the growth of the direct care workforce. Now it’s a full-blown crisis, leaving thousands of people without essential services.
As of September, there were over 12,000 people with an intellectual disability in need of financial help on a state waitlist for funding, according to Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services,
The wait for those who sign up is an average of over two years, and patient advocates say there are likely many more families who need services but aren’t on the waitlist.
Making matters worse, the families that do receive funding from the state for those services often find that there is no one to provide them because the pay is too low.
Advocates say the solution to this problem is greater government funding. They note that paying an average hourly rate of around $14 is hardly competitive in a world where people can make more than that working in retail or food service.
Gary Blumenthal of InVision, a nonprofit service provider for people with intellectual disabilities, has been among those leading the charge for greater state funding.
Blumenthal’s agency has an office in Muhlenberg Township that employs 220 area residents and provides service and support to 58 sites, including individual homes. He says the solution to the problem comes down to equal treatment.
Blumenthal notes that direct support professionals who work for the state make $19 per hour with annual salary increases and good benefits. He argues that state reimbursement for other providers should be the same. That would make the jobs more attractive and greatly reduce turnover rates.
Keeping people on the job is as important as attracting them in the first place. Blumenthal says that prior to the pandemic, community programs for people with intellectual disabilities and autism had turnover rates of 40% (people leaving their jobs within the first year). During the pandemic those turnover rates reached levels up to 60% to 80%. And this month a leading disability professional association reported that the situation had grown even worse. This would be tough to endure in any field. It’s especially challenging in this difficult area that relies so heavily on developing strong interpersonal relationships.
“With huge turnover and huge vacancy rates, it is a miracle that no one has yet died or suffered tremendous harm when there is no staff to be present to address their needs,” Blumenthal said.
The state has offered a response to the problem, announcing an increase in reimbursement to an average of $15 per hour. That’s a start, but Blumenthal and others don’t think it will be nearly enough to address the problem.
Blumenthal is calling on Gov. Tom Wolf to invest an additional $65 million into the program. That would be matched by the federal government, providing enough funding to allow programs and families the ability to hire needed support staff.
Families tell heart-wrenching stories about juggling work responsibilities while trying to care for loved ones who desperately need help. Some are forced to quit their jobs, putting an even greater financial burden on them. Providers are eliminating some programs, sending people home to their aging parents or requiring managers, executive directors, secretaries or any available help to step in.
We recognize that this is one of many competing priorities state leaders must consider as they determine spending plans. There are limited dollars and seemingly unlimited needs. But at minimum the governor should grant advocates an opportunity to plead their case before presenting his next budget in February.
Given the challenges these families face, it’s the least he can do.
