The WellSpan Spotlight

WellSpan Health highlights the need for continued investment in personal care homes

WellSpan Health and Human Services Acting Secretary highlight need for continued investment in Pennsylvania's personal care homes

Meg Snead,Acting Secretary of Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services, joined WellSpan Health and other partners at Hunter Cottage, a personal care home in the City of York, to advocate for increased funding in this year's state budget to preserve this affordable long-term care option. Licensed personal care homes are residences that provide shelter, meals and personal care assistance for low-income older adults and people with disabilities - but who do not need skilled nursing care. The state and federal government currently provide a $39 daily Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment to support low-income individuals who reside in a personal care home. Pennsylvania's portion of this payment hasn't increased since 2006 and more than 400 low-income homes, or 46% of the statewide total, have closed since then.