Our commonwealth has the fourth oldest population in the nation, and our fastest growing population is individuals 85 and older. Many of these residents will increasingly need intensive around-the-clock care for such diseases as Alzheimer’s and dementia. And make no mistake: This segment of our population will continue to grow.

But the sobering reality is that Pennsylvania is not taking the necessary steps to prepare for the approaching wave of aging residents. Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has indicated that the sick, frail and elderly aren’t a priority: For the fifth consecutive year, Wolf proposed flat funding for Medicaid rates in long-term care facilities such as nursing homes.

You can tell a lot about which members of our society we value by the support we show them. Our aging parents, grandparents and loved ones with complex medical needs matter. They deserve better than to be forgotten by our governor.

That’s why I went to Harrisburg earlier this month to ask our legislators to increase Medicaid funding for nursing home care this year. Our neighbors, friends and families deserve it.

Walter Kingera

North Huntingdon

The writer is senior administrator of Transitions Healthcare North Huntingdon.

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