New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Resident Newsletters

March 2024

Residents Are Leading an Effort to Nearly Triple PNA Funds

Medicaid-eligible residents of nursing homes, state developmental centers, and state or county psychiatric hospitals would receive a monthly Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) of $140, up from the current $50, under a bill drafted by residents and introduced Feb. 27 in the New Jersey Assembly.

The bill (A3908), sponsored by Assemblymen Christopher DePhillips and Al Barlas, would implement annual cost-of-living adjustments to the PNA to match increases in Social Security benefits. Resident Stacy Moore worked closely with DePhillips' office to get the bill drafted.

Residents around the state, including Bob Cole and Joan Staab, have been diligently working to increase the PNA for years. The residents' next goal is to enlist a state Senator to introduce an identical bill. To become law, a bill must pass the Assembly and Senate before being signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.

The American Council on Aging reports that 26 states and the District of Columbia mandate higher PNA amounts than New Jersey, with the highest rate being $200 a month in Alaska. Only 13 states require a PNA lower than $50.

The PNA is a Medicaid-eligible resident's only income, and $50 does not go far in New Jersey, which is ranked by Forbes Advisor as the state with the fifth-highest cost of living. New Jersey's current PNA amounts to about $1.67 per day — roughly the cost of a single snack from a nursing home vending machine.

Residents are expected to use PNA funds to cover an array of expenses, such as clothing; shoes; haircuts and most hair care products; supplies for crafting or other hobbies; and vitamins and supplements not provided by the nursing home.

Anyone interested in supporting the PNA bill should contact Community Engagement at 1-609-690-4740 or community@ltco.nj.gov.

Reach out to your legislators directly. You can search by municipality to find your legislators and their contact information.

Watch future editions of The Beacon for updates on the PNA legislation.

Residents and LTCO Director to Speak at Virtual Aging Summit

The Rutgers Hub for Aging Collaboration will host the InnovAGING NJ Summit on Friday, March 22, to showcase innovative programs and partnerships that are improving the lives of older adults.

The free event will be held via Zoom from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Attendees can choose from more than a dozen breakout sessions, including one presented by Elizabeth Speidel, LTCO Director of Community Engagement, and Gary Brown and Ray DiFrancesco, residents of a nursing home in Plainsboro.

They will discuss Community Engagement's work with residents and family members to help build a sense of community — both within individual homes and between facilities across the state — and ensure that residents' voices are heard and respected in efforts to identify issues and create change in long-term care.

Learn more and register.

Women's History Month Spotlight: Remembering Author, Gray Panthers Founder Maggie Kuhn

In 1970, when Margaret Eliza "Maggie" Kuhn was forced to retire at age 65, she didn't bemoan her fate. Instead, she and a group of friends who were in the same boat founded an organization that would become known as the Gray Panthers.

During the next quarter century, until her death in 1995, Kuhn's work with the Gray Panthers would be instrumental in ending mandatory retirement provisions, shaping nursing home reform, and combatting health care fraud against older adults. While fighting ageism was always a priority, the Gray Panthers broadened their mission to promote human rights, social and economic justice, world peace, and understanding of mental health issues.

"Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind — even if your voice shakes," Kuhn wrote. "When you least expect it, someone may actually listen to what you have to say. Well-aimed slingshots can topple giants."

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