Eric Simonsen attended the county commissioners meeting on Wednesday to share his concern about the lack of staff at the facility in Slippery Rock where he lives.

Two employees of Marakey AVS Services in Slippery Rock helped resident Eric Simonsen maneuver his electronic wheelchair to the podium at Wednesday's county commissioners meeting so Simonsen could tell the board that he and his friends were unable to go on a vacation to Gatlinburg, Tenn., because of a worker shortage at Marakey.

Simonsen relayed his concerns to the commissioners regarding the staff shortage at Marakey AVS, which houses and provides day programming for 100 adults with intellectual and developmental delays in Slippery Rock.

Simonsen said the Gatlinburg vacation was canceled because Marakey was one staff member short for the trip.

Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, told Simonsen that his problem is not unique.

“This is a crisis nationwide, the shortage of care workers,” Osche said. “It's a struggle for every provider.”

Osche said Butler County Community College is focusing on training caseworkers, while the state County Commissioners Association is working on ways to recruit caregivers and caseworkers for such organizations as Marakey AVS and Lutheran Senior Life.

Read the rest of this story in Thursday's print edition of the Butler Eagle, or subscribe online.

Read the rest of this story in Thursday's print edition of the Butler Eagle or subscribe online.