All six of New Hampshire’s congressional candidates agree on the necessity for normal testing of employees and residents and for sufficient protecting gear in nursing properties, the place the overwhelming majority of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have occurred.
However what about long-term care after COVID-19?
U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas mentioned he would develop scholar mortgage reimbursement packages to incorporate extra well being care employees and financially encourage them to return to New Hampshire and work in underserved components of the state.
“We’re an growing older state. We’d like a younger skilled workforce right here in New Hampshire,” mentioned Pappas, a Democrat operating for re-election within the 1st Congressional District.
Aware of the attainable price, Pappas’ Republican opponent, Matt Mowers, was cautious about supporting a scholar mortgage reimbursement program however mentioned he could be open to it.
Pappas mentioned it was essential to put money into different companies and facilities which may appeal to younger folks to the state and encourage them to place down roots.
U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen mentioned she supported an analogous program to repay scholar loans for well being care graduates who work in rural New Hampshire.
Shaheen’s Republican opponent, Bryant “Corky” Messner, mentioned he was not conscious of a shortage of well being care employees past the state’s scarcity of skilled employees in lots of fields.
Messner mentioned authorities mustn’t intervene to bolster the pay of nursing dwelling employees and residential well being care employees, as Gov. Chris Sununu did briefly this spring.
“They should obtain sufficient compensation and advantages. The native market will set what compensation is,” Messner mentioned.
He mentioned that additionally applies to nursing properties that look after folks on Medicaid, the place the state authorities units costs.
Lengthy-term and residential care
Mowers mentioned he thought the well being care subject may assist spur job development in New Hampshire. He mentioned he supported funding in inexpensive coaching, similar to diploma packages from public and group faculties or apprenticeship packages.
“I feel we’ve got an actual alternative, particularly popping out of COVID, to create a booming well being care business,” Mowers mentioned.
Mowers mentioned he needed to see extra long-term care services open, with extra inexpensive choices administered by the state or native authorities, supported with federal funding.
Messner mentioned he thought oversight of nursing properties and long-term care services is essential. “As anyone who desires authorities out of the best way, it is a situation through which oversight is acceptable,” he mentioned.
However Messner mentioned he want to see the present system of nursing dwelling inspections, which is run on the federal stage, taken over by state or native governments and funded with federal cash.
U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and her 2nd District opponent, Republican Steve Negron, each cared for his or her growing older dad and mom. They mentioned these experiences made them worth dwelling well being care.
Kuster mentioned she relied on the Harmony Visiting Nurses Affiliation to assist look after her mom. Kuster mentioned she needed to see Medicare cowl visiting nurses’ companies and different dwelling well being care.
Negron mentioned he remembers all of the members of the family who pitched in to look after his dad and mom.
Members of the family caring for his or her family members are heroic, Kuster mentioned, however additionally they want assist from their employers and assist from somebody like a visiting nurse or aide.
Negron introduced up long-term care insurance coverage, noting its excessive price.
Lengthy-term care insurance coverage has gotten dearer, mentioned Mike McGuinness, affiliate professor of enterprise and economics at Saint Anselm Faculty. Few persons are shopping for it as a result of insurance policies price 1000’s of {dollars} a yr, and prices are rising.
“Huge image? The rich are going to be effective as a result of they’ll have the cash and the belongings to cowl nursing dwelling prices,” McGuinness mentioned. “The poor are going to be effective as a result of they’ll be coated by Medicaid,” the medical health insurance program for the poor and disabled.
Center-class individuals who discover themselves in want of care will likely be squeezed, he mentioned.
Shaheen mentioned the federal government may also help folks age in place, via insurance policies and packages that assist them dwell at dwelling longer with consolation and dignity.
