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By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer

They are long-term care workers, and there aren't enough of them in Maine.

A conference being held today at the Augusta Civic Center will honor 23 long-term care workers who've done an exceptional job. And while today's focus is on the positive work they do, there's a concern in the profession that there aren't enough people in this line of work to fill the need, said Brenda Gallant, the state's long-term care ombudsman.

"These workers are really the backbone of the long-term care system," she said. "They have a huge responsibility."

Yet there are waiting lists for in-home services, such as helping people shop, cook and take care of themselves. The problem is statewide, in rural and urban areas, Gallant said. There's high turnover in the profession, the pay ranges from $8.50 to $10 an hour and there are often no benefits for workers.

"Here we have caregivers who oftentimes can't get care themselves," she said. "They don't have health insurance."

As the ombudsman, Gallant is an advocate for consumers who get help at home, in nursing homes or in assisted living facilities. Her office investigates and resolves 1,600 complaints each year, she said.

But today, her office is working with the Maine Health Care Association, which represents 250 long-term care facilities statewide, and First Atlantic Corp., which owns and operates nursing homes and assisted living centers, to honor those who do a good job taking care of others. One of those is Erika Thayer of Industry, who describes her job as a "labor of love."

"I love interacting with the people," said Thayer, 25. "They can tell you so much about their lives. Truly, they thank you all the time."

Thayer, who works at Orchard Park Rehabilitation and Living Center in Farmington, has been a certified nursing assistant for four years. A statement that accompanied her nomination papers describes her as a caring person who doesn't toot her own horn.

"Erika brings her two children into the facility to visit when she's not working and they bring smiles wherever they go," the statement said. "She has been known to do a bit of shopping for special things that residents need also."

A study group that looked at wages and health care coverage for long-term care workers earlier this year concluded that because Maine has an older population, there's likely to be a "serious and growing workforce shortage over the next 20 years."

The Legislature has taken steps to improve pay rates for some of the workers, but there has been no industrywide change, said Lisa Pohlmann, associate director of the Maine Center for Economic Policy, a liberal think tank based in Augusta.

For the last five years, Pohlmann has been a member of the Maine Direct Care Coalition, which has worked to improve wages, benefits, training and working conditions for long-term care workers. Most of the 22,000 long-term care workers in the state are women, many of whom make low wages and have no health insurance.

"We're taking care of the elderly on the backs of low-income women," she said.

Pohlmann and Gallant said it makes sense to invest in these workers because they often help people stay out of more expensive institutionalized care.

"By investing in these services, we are saving money," Gallant said. "People do, when they can, want to stay home."

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com

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