Supporting grandparents raising grandkids

WILKES-BARRE, PA — Addressing the rising number of multigenerational households across the state, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski (D-121) recently hosted a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on the increasing number of grandparents raising grandchildren, and the legislation and resources needed to support caregivers and children across Pennsylvania.

“I first became aware of this issue more than a decade ago, when I was fortunate enough to meet several heroes in our communities—grandparents who stepped in to raise their grandchildren for various reasons,” said Pashinski. “We passed three bills in 2018 to create important resources for grandparents, bills that I’m very proud will help thousands of people in need.”

His new legislation, House Bill 2858, would provide for legal services—including adoption—for kinship-care families.

Kinship care is the care of children by relatives who are not their parents, or by close family friends.

Held at the Henry Student Center at Wilkes University, the hearing consisted of grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, nonprofit founders and state officials. The hearing noted that the opioid epidemic has contributed to the number of kinship-care families; it also recognized that a multitude of reasons can lead to a family member stepping in to raise children.

“The stark reality is—and it happens for many reasons—grandparents raising grandchildren is a very real thing, and I know this has been going on for a very long time,” state Rep. Gina Curry (D-164) said. “I’m thinking about the stigma in talking about the need to take care of family and grandchildren, and I’m concerned about people in my district who are in an isolated place because they may encounter language or cultural obstacles.” 

Karen Barnes, president and founder of the nonprofit Grands Stepping Up in Delaware County, noted that she has tried to work with numerous lawmakers and school districts to reach families that otherwise wouldn’t be contacted because of language or cultural obstacles.

“Caregivers, including grandparents who are raising grandchildren, often face a myriad of challenges, such as access to information about available benefits and resources, lack of adequate education and training, and financial assistance to help defray the costs of caregiving-related expenses,” said Steven Horner, deputy secretary of the PA Department of Aging. “The department’s caregiver support program, administered statewide through the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, provides resources and assistance that focus on the caregiver’s well-being and alleviate the stresses associated with caregiving.” 

Kinship caregivers sometimes don’t have legal custody of their grandchildren, and they can struggle to find money to pay for essentials and child care. Often, according to a press release, they go without what they need.

Testifiers noted that one of the biggest fears facing grandparents—specifically those stepping in to help parents who are suffering from substance use disorder—is that Children & Youth Services, or the police, would intercede and take their grandchildren away. 

Natalie Hoprich, a grandmother raising her grandchildren, said grandparents need to realize authorities are not attempting to break up households. In recent years, Hoprich said, she has noticed it has become more acceptable for grandparents to come forward, and hopes that more will do so in the future. 

“We have to start treating these heroic people not as grandparents, but as the parents and caregivers they really are,” said state Rep. Maureen Madden (D-115). “Having been raised by a single dad and a grandmother, I know firsthand the challenges a family unit faces, and I am so grateful for the testifiers today for their tireless advocacy, their passion and, most importantly, their unquestionable love for their grandchildren. I’ve been proud to work closely with Rep. Pashinski over the years on improving services and resources for families in these situations, and I know our work is not yet done. This was an enlightening and sometimes heartbreaking hearing, and it’s critical that we continue to spread the word of available resources and erase the stigma some grandparents unnecessarily feel.” 

For more information about this hearing and other hearings, visit pahouse.com/policy. 

Grandparents raising grandchildren has become more common during the opioid epidemic.

1199SEIU members testify in support of regulations for new nursing home laws

ALBANY, NY — New York’s Public Health and Health Planning Council have voted on regulations that would guide the implementation of two laws that were passed in 2021.

The first of those laws would require an average of 3.5 hours of care a day for each nursing home resident. 

Prior to the law’s passage, there were no minimum staffing requirements in New York. In order to meet these standards, most owners of nursing homes will have to hire more caregivers.

Another law requires nursing home owners to spend 70 percent of revenue on quality resident care—and 40 percent of that must be for staffing.

The regulations were passed unanimously; industry representatives testified in opposition and stated their need for more funding in order to follow the law.

“There must be laws, because we have already seen that too many nursing home owners will not do what is necessary on their own,” said Annesa Brown, a C.N.A. (certified nursing assistant) at Yorktown Nursing Home, and a member of 1199SEIU. “Even when they make a lot of money, they always say they don’t have enough money for staff—they can’t afford it. So, now the law will require what should have been done a long time ago.”

Short-staffing has been going on for a long time, she said, “but it only became known to the public during the COVID pandemic. One wonders if we had not been through that tragedy, if the staffing issue would even be addressed now.”

A C.N.A. cannot do the job of giving compassionate care when there are 13 to 20 residents to care for at once, Brown said. “When this happens to me, I feel terrible that I have not been able to give my residents what they deserve. Caregivers like me wanted a job that helps people, wanted to be caregivers. We don’t want to leave the industry. But if we can’t afford to take care of our own families, how can we take care of others? Nursing-home owners must invest in staff. Then they will see that it is not all that difficult to recruit dedicated workers.”

What if you had someone you loved in care? Brown asked. What if it were you? The situation would look very different, she said. 

Learn more about 1199SEIU at www.1199seiu.org/.