More than 30 leaders of aging services, health and social support nonprofit organizations called on Americans Tuesday to immediately demand that their elected officials address current crises in affordable housing, home- and community-based services, and staffing shortages.

The letter comes as Congress and the administration are stalled on negotiations over the Build Back Better package, which would provide historic levels of support for older adults. LeadingAge’s President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan is leading the campaign and signed the letter, along with the leaders of 14 other national organizations. Also signing were 18 leaders of LeadingAge state partners. Together, the groups serve tens of millions of Americans.

“Millions of Americans like you rely on home and community-based services to grow older in their own homes, but there aren’t enough professional caregivers to provide assistance with basic needs,” the leaders wrote. 

A 2021 LeadingAge public perception poll found overwhelming support for government investment in aging services.

“We can’t miss this opportunity to increase home-based care, affordable senior housing, and the full range of aging services across the country.  Don’t let this moment pass,” the leaders emphasized.

Last month, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said he wouldn’t back President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan and its nearly $1 billion for the long-term care industry. That would tip any vote against passage, given current partisan line-ups in Congress.

The Senate’s latest version of the Build Back Better Act includes several provisions specific to nursing homes and long-term care, including $800 million in grant funding for workforce and infection control improvements. It also calls on federal health officials to conduct a study to determine the ideal minimum nurse staff-to-resident ratio for SNFs, but leaves out a House proposal that would impose those minimum requirements on all facilities.

The bill also would require SNFs to have a registered nurse present 24 hours per day, which would be an increase from the current federal requirement of eight hours. It also calls for revisions to temporary increase of FMAP funding approved for COVID-19 relief measures that providers say would decrease Medicaid funding.