Barrios Fighting for Increase in Seniors' Personal Needs Allowance

Senator Jarrett T. Barrios is fighting for an increase in the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) for nursing home residents in this year’s FY07 budget.   

In a letter to the Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Therese Murray, Barrios and nine other Senators said that the PNA “is of critical importance to elders residing in nursing homes,” and that the current level of funding is “insufficient to allow residents to maintain personal dignity and enjoy small pleasures.” 

Under current rules, residents covered under MassHealth are only allowed to use $60 of their monthly income to cover personal expenses, including toiletries, clothing and other items for daily life not covered by the facility where they live.  Half of the $5 million proposed increase in the PNA for seniors would be reimbursed with federal matching dollars, making the net cost to the state $2.5 million. 

“Seniors who are struggling to afford rising prescription drug prices and energy costs, should not have to worry about paying for personal expenses like clothing,” said Senator Barrios.  “We owe it to our seniors to increase their Personal Needs Allowance.” 

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