• Support a Higher Personal Needs Allowance for Nursing Home Residents

    Open to residents, staff, family members, advocates, and other supporters.
  • To: Members of the Connecticut General Assembly

    Re: Support for Increasing the Personal Needs Allowance for Nursing Home Residents

    The Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) is the monthly amount Medicaid-covered nursing home residents may keep to pay for personal items and expenses not otherwise covered, such as clothing, toiletries, grooming, phone service, snacks, hobbies, and other day-to-day needs that support dignity and quality of life.

    Connecticut’s current PNA does not adequately reflect the real cost of these necessities. As prices rise, residents are increasingly forced to go without basic personal items and meaningful choices that support comfort, autonomy, and emotional well-being.

    We, the undersigned nursing home residents, staff, family members, advocates, and community supporters, respectfully urge the Connecticut General Assembly to pass legislation that:

    • Increases the Personal Needs Allowance for nursing home residents to a more adequate monthly amount; and

    • Establishes a regular adjustment, including consideration of a cost-of-living measure, so the allowance keeps pace with inflation over time.

    An adequate PNA is essential to protecting dignity, independence, self-care, and quality of life for nursing home residents across Connecticut.
  • Background:
    The Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) is a monthly amount provided to nursing home residents to cover personal expenses. The current PNA is $75 per month, last increased in 2021. With rising costs of living, this amount is no longer sufficient. This petition requests the Connecticut General Assembly to establish an annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the PNA to ensure residents' needs are met.

  • Petition Statement:
    We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Connecticut General Assembly pass legislation that (a) increases Connecticut’s PNA above $75 per month and (b) establishes an annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the PNA.

  • Closing Statement:
    Ensuring an adequate PNA is vital for the dignity, autonomy, self-care, and quality of life of Connecticut’s nursing home residents.
  • Role / Relationship*
  • Consent and Privacy Notice
    By signing this petition, you authorize your name to be included in advocacy materials and submissions to legislators in support of increasing the Personal Needs Allowance for nursing home residents. Any optional comments or testimonials may be shared in full, in part, with limited identifying information, or anonymously, unless you request otherwise. Information collected will be used solely for advocacy and outreach related to this issue.
  • Contact: LTCOP@ct.gov
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