Horsford Introduces Legislation to Improve Nursing Home Care for Nevada Seniors

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Nursing Home Workforce Support and Expansion Act. The bill would improve nursing home care by strengthening wages and benefits for long-term care workers. 

“Long-term care workers face low wages and challenging work conditions,” said Congressman Horsford. “I’ve seen the difference that high-quality care can make. My grandmother spent nearly thirty years in a nursing home after a debilitating stroke. This legislation will invest in our care workers in nursing homes across the country so they can retain their skilled workers, while also expanding the workforce by attracting new individuals to the field. I’ll continue advocating for those who work every day to take care of our loved ones and ensure they get the support they need. 

“At a time when demand for long-term care in nursing homes and other care settings is growing rapidly, America’s long-term care workforce challenges must be addressed,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including nursing homes. “The Nursing Home Workforce Support and Expansion Act provides much-needed funding for important supports like tuition assistance and wage subsidies, that will help to sustain staff and attract new employees to the sector, which is critical for our mission-driven, nonprofit members. Without staff, there is no care. We applaud Congressman Horsford for introducing this bill, which will get us one step closer to an America that values older adults and those who serve them.”

“The Nursing Home Workforce Support and Expansion Act exemplifies the support that the long term and post-acute care profession needs as we continue to face a caregiver shortage,” said Clif Porter, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living. “We thank Representative Horsford for his innovative and thoughtful approach to building policy that directly addresses the challenges of attracting and retaining passionate workers for the sector. This legislation will drive more caregivers to the nursing home field by offering meaningful funding to assist with their everyday lives. These smart investments will help build the critical pipeline of professionals who are needed to care for the growing number of seniors and individuals with disabilities.”

The Nursing Home Workforce Support and Expansion Act provides funding for grants to states to support workers providing in post-acute and long-term care (LTC) settings. The grants are provided to states and territories based on their population of adults over 65 years of age and people with disabilities, and to tribes and tribal organizations through a consultation process. 

The bill will help the long-term care industry be competitive in the job market. As job openings rise, long-term care facilities are losing qualified staff to other industries that have higher wages and better benefits. Turnover in the long-term care industry — which can be as high as 300 percent — has made it difficult for these facilities to provide high-quality care. The legislation will provide funding to pay long-term care workers competitive wages and offer stronger benefits, leading to lower turnover and better care for Nevadans who need long-term care. 

This legislation would also serve to attract, recruit, and retain new talent into the long-term care industry. 

Funding from the Nursing Home Workforce Support and Expansion Act must be used to: 

• Provide wage subsidies to employees in post-acute and long-term care positions
• Provide student loan repayment or tuition assistance to eligible individuals, who include long-term care workers and those training to be long-term care workers
• Guarantee affordable and accessible child care for eligible individuals
• Provide transportation assistance to eligible individuals

Funding may be used to: 

• Establish a reserve fund for emergency financial assistance
• Provide in-kind resource donations, such as interview clothing and conference attendance fees
• Provide assistance with activities designed to lower barriers to employment, including legal assistance
• Support eligible employers in offering not less than two weeks of paid leave per year

The Nursing Home Workforce Support and Expansion Act is supported by LeadingAge, SEIU, and American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

A summary of the bill can be found here.