Ray DiFrancesco (center) and Louis Bonilla (right), members of the group NJ Nursing ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Residents United, appeared with On ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ’s Ken Rosato to make the case for why nursing home residents deserve an increase in the personal needs allowance (PNA). .

Nearly two-thirds of ³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ nursing home residents are on Medicaid, and their benefits — along with any income they receive, such as Social Security — are paid to the nursing home. The residents get to keep only $50 a month for their PNA. This is not enough for bare essentials such as shoes and clothes, let alone a phone, supplies for hobbies, toiletries to replace subpar items provided by the nursing home, and occasional takeout food.

Senate Bill S3319/Assembly Bill A3908 would increase the PNA to $140 a month and implement yearly adjustments to keep up with the cost of living. Read more .