Lititz family mentioned in governor speech highlights caregiver shortages
News 8 caught up with the family about how Shapiro's proposed budget would impact them.
News 8 caught up with the family about how Shapiro's proposed budget would impact them.
News 8 caught up with the family about how Shapiro's proposed budget would impact them.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro invited a Lancaster County family from Lititz to his budget address on Tuesday.
He mentioned Cindy Jennings and her 30-year-old son Matthew, who was born with multiple disabilities, to highlight the need for more caregivers.
News 8 caught up with the family, who say it's been hard over the years to find caregivers.
"During the pandemic, I didn't have caregivers coming to my home at all," Cindy said. "I think we both started getting really depressed."
Shapiro said there is a shortage of caregivers in the commonwealth because they aren't getting paid enough.
According to Shapiro, the state rate that helps determine the paycheck for caregivers yields about $12 an hour even though they're asked to do "incredibly difficult, skilled labor-intensive work."
For this reason, Shapiro said he plans to invest $216 million into the issue, which allows the state to draw another $266 million in federal dollars.
The governor said this will help provide resources to caregivers.
"So, in turn, they can pay competitive rates to attract and retain staff to provide these life-changing services," Shapiro said.
Cindy said she puts her son Matthew's needs ahead of hers, which oftentimes requires a lot of work.
"He needs assistance with food prep and some eating and dressing and all that stuff," she said.
Still, Cindy said she is more than happy to have Matthew in her life.
"I was always such a shy person, and somehow I gave birth to the most social being in the universe," she said.