Georgia Personal Needs Allowance

Melanie McNeil, Esq., State Long-Term Care Ombudsman

678 residents of nursing homes have sent letters to Governor Kemp and members of the General Assembly, thanking them for increasing the Personal Needs Allowance (PNA) by $15.  Residents use the PNA to buy their clothing,  small gifts and cards for celebrations such as Christmas or birthdays and other incidentals that we all take for granted.

The residents are also requesting an additional $5 that was authorized by the General Assembly, but requires an appropriation. Ombudsman Representatives from across Georgia have worked diligently to assist nursing home residents to communicate their advocacy requests to the governor and General Assembly members.

The letters have been delivered to the governor and key legislators.  Copies will also be distributed to the legislators from the residents’ legislative districts.  We hope that the legislature will add the $5 to the budget for the State Fiscal Year 2020.