Puerto Rican AARP Conference Focuses on Long Term Care Challenges

San Juan, Puerto Rico - In a speech today addressing an audience of AARP advocates, care providers, and policymakers, SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera shared pressing concerns about the Commonwealth's readiness to meet future long term care demands and a vision of partnership to build a more sustainable and affordable system of care.

As a native of Puerto Rico, Rivera highlighted the island's proud tradition of caring for seniors and disabled individuals in the home, while emphasizing that a variety of economic challenges including, high poverty rates, capped Medicaid funding that precludes coverage of long-term care, and a shortage of highly skilled workers - are all issues that can be addressed with an approach that unites labor, government and long term care providers.

The following are excerpts from Rivera's remarks today in Puerto Rico:

Far too many dedicated caregivers leave this workforce in the U.S. because of low-pay, poor working conditions, and lack of opportunity. We must work together to ensure that Puerto Rico develops a skilled and vibrant workforce so that our seniors can receive the best care possible and the respect and dignity they deserve.

"Whatever path we choose to build this system of long term care, we need to make sure that it includes sufficient funding to make it work. It is not enough to say, 'We believe in healthcare for all,' and not develop a sustainable financing system to make that vision a reality. I believe this is possible if we work together."

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