EDITORIAL: Nursing home residents deserve a pay raise

June 08--Pushing some bills through the state Legislature in the final flurry before the scheduled close of business on June 21 could be tough.

This one should be easy, and lawmakers need to get it done.

The issue involves the personal needs allowance for residents of nursing homes -- Assembly Bill A02232 and Senate Bill S02754. In short, the bills would increase the personal needs allowance of individuals in nursing homes and individuals in residential programs for victims of domestic violence.

Right now, they get a paltry $50 a month.

It's been $50 a month since 1981. That might have worked 36 years ago, but it stinks today. One dollar in 1981 had the buying power of $2.80 today. Try limiting your monthly personal needs -- which could include everything from toiletries and greeting cards to postage stamps and chewing gum -- to that. And don't forget haircuts, occasional gifts for loved ones, clothing and maybe a few newspapers and magazines.

Nobody should be stuck at the same income level for 36 years. State lawmakers, for instance, made $32,960 in the early 1980s, according to Politico. They're paid $79,500 today. Add to that $174 a day (including overnight) or $59 a day (no overnight) for expenses. Some still think they don't make enough.

Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D-Utica, and Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, both support to increase for nursing home folks. In essence, the legislation would raise the personal allowance to $75 per month.

That's still a stretch when it comes to funding personal needs, but it's something.

Good people like Tom Talbot, Susan Schafer, Judy Foster and Mary Donovan -- ombudsmen for residents of Katherine Luther Residential Health Care & Rehabilitation Center in Clinton, Presbyterian Home for Central New York in New Hartford, Charles T. Sitrin Health Care Center in New Hartford and Waterville Residential Care Center (formerly Harding Nursing Home) -- signed a letter from residents to state lawmakers in January asking them to approve the increase.

This shouldn't be taking so long. We all know or have known people in nursing homes. Perhaps loved ones. They've already given up their homes, their independence and possessions. They shouldn't have to give up their dignity.

State lawmakers already have enough to be ashamed of. Kicking our elderly citizens in their twilight years to the curb shouldn't be added to the list.

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