AUGUSTA (WGME) — Maine has the oldest population in the country, and medical experts say Maine's seniors need to get the care they deserve.
At the moment, lack of funding is a major obstacle.
“There is a $96.5 million difference between what MaineCare pays facilities to care for patients and the cost of actually caring for patients,” said Lisa Harvey McPherson, Northern Light Health's vice president of government relations. There is a shortage,” he said.
She and others gathered at the state capitol Thursday as part of the “Who Will Care?” motion.
They are seeking funding for long-term care facilities in the state.
Harvey McPherson said nursing homes are responding to cost shortfalls by closing their facilities, changing the services they provide and not filling beds.
“About 30 per cent of the beds are empty, but they're empty because we don't have the money to hire staff,” Harvey McPherson said.
Kristin Cyr is vice president of nursing and patient care at Northern Light.
She said seniors don't always get the care they need right away if beds aren't available.
These patients often have to go to other facilities that are not nearby.
Such is the case in Hancock County. Lack of funding means there are currently zero long-term hospital beds for the aging population.
Many people end up going to the hospital instead, which is devastating for patients and their families, Schill said.
“They are in a residential setting and have activities and other coordinated efforts outside of the hospital setting,” Shea said.
Lack of funding is also creating a crisis for health care workers, said Dan Meyer, chief of hospital medicine at Maine Medical Center.
“This is a very difficult time for nurses, doctors and other health care professionals, with very high rates of health care worker burnout,” Meyer said.
Health experts say more funding could help stabilize Maine's health care system.
“Older people shouldn't have to live in hospital for months on end until they can get the level of care they need in the community. We can do more than that,” said Harvey McPherson. .
The group hopes to see additional funding in the governor's supplemental budget proposal.
They say they are working with lawmakers to make that happen.
