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Respect & Protect Nursing Home Caregiver Wages

Join thousands of nursing home residents, their family members and staff in urging elected officials to make vital workforce investments for dedicated nursing facility caregivers a priority in this year’s state budget. As we continue to experience an historic workforce crisis, we need your voice to help us respect & protect nursing home caregiver wages.

Take Action

BECOME AN ADVOCATE!

Make your voice heard! Take action now to urge policymakers to invest in vital workforce investments for nursing facility staff in the FY 2023 budget.

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THE ISSUE

Protect quality resident care and invest in nursing home caregivers

Nursing facilities provide a core state service to 32,000 frail elders and disabled individuals who can no longer be cared for safely at home. Two-thirds of nursing home residents rely on the state Medicaid program to pay for their care which underfunds quality nursing home care by hundreds of millions annually. A facility’s ability to invest in staff wages and hire additional staff is entirely dependent on Medicaid funding.

A vital workforce investment of $238 million is urgently needed to support the Commonwealth’s 45,000 dedicated nursing home caregivers and to hire additional staff to care for our residents. Without this critical investment, there will be devastating pay cuts to caregivers, which will further exacerbate the historic workforce crisis and put in jeopardy access to quality nursing home care.

GET THE FACTS

We must respect and protect nursing home caregiver wages.


Did You Know?

  • Nearly 45,000 dedicated frontline caregivers provide vital care and companionship to 32,000 nursing facility residents across Massachusetts.
  • During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state and federal government provided critically necessary one-time funding to increase wages by at least 15% for deserving direct care staff. Now, action is urgently needed because one-time state workforce funding is set to expire on June 30, 2022.
  • Lawmakers need to make this funding permanent. If they don’t, our  dedicated direct care staff will face wage reductions, further exacerbating the current workforce crisis.
  • A vital workforce investment of $238 million is urgently needed to maintain wages for 45,000 dedicated nursing home caregivers and hire additional staff to care for nursing home residents. Without this critical investment, there will be devastating pay cuts to caregivers, which will further exacerbate the historic workforce crisis and put in jeopardy access to quality nursing home care.
  • Since 75% of a nursing home’s budget is used to fund employee wages and benefits, a nursing home’s ability to increase wages and benefits is entirely dependent upon state funding.
  • Approximately 7,400 direct care staff positions, or 1 in 5 positions are vacant across Massachusetts.
  • The staffing shortage is resulting in 70% of nursing facilities denying admissions from the community and hospitals, which is disrupting access to care for patients and their families across the Commonwealth.

Recent Media

She’s ready to take the test to become a certified nurse aide, but can’t schedule one
The Boston Globe
April 22, 2022

Nursing home situation grows dire again
CommonWealth Magazine
April 9, 2022

Worker shortage hitting nursing homes hard
Boston 25 News
March 2, 2022

Nursing homes at a tipping point: Many are forced to freeze admissions, stranding patients in hospitals for weeks
The Boston Globe
January 5, 2022

Editorial: Nursing-home bill’s aims require robust aid boost
The Lowell Sun
November 21, 2021

How To Spend $5 Billion In COVID Relief: Mass. State Legislature Hears Public Health Proposals
WGBH/State House News Service
September 21, 2021

Nursing home industry sounds alarm – again
CommonWealth Magazine
September 21, 2021

Resident of Quincy nursing home speaks up for fair pay for staff
State House News Service
July 20, 2021

Your opinion: CNAs are heroes: It’s time to pay them a living wage
The Patriot Ledger
June 25, 2021

Op-Ed: It’s time to stop blaming nursing homes
CommonWealth Magazine
May 25, 2021

Nursing homes have made staff gains, but more needed
CommonWealth Magazine
May 8, 2021

LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR

  • January 2022

    Governor Baker State Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Recommendation Released

  • Mid-April 2022

    House Ways & Means Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Recommendation Released and Debated by the Full House of Representatives

  • Mid-May 2022

    Senate Ways & Means Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Recommendation Released and Debated by the Full Senate

  • June 2022

    Fiscal Year 2023 Conference Committee Deliberations

  • July 1, 2022

    Start of State Fiscal Year 2023

About MSCA 

The Massachusetts Senior Care Association represents a diverse set of organizations that deliver a broad spectrum of services to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities.  Its members include more than 350 nursing and rehabilitation facilities, assisted living residences, residential care facilities and continuing care retirement communities.  Forming a crucial link in the continuum of care, Mass Senior Care facilities provide housing, health care and support services to more than 100,000 people a year; employ more than 45,000 staff members; and contribute more than $4.5 billion annually to the Massachusetts economy.