VOYCE’s statement on the Essential Caregivers Act: COVID-19 has caused unimaginable devastation across our nation’s nursing homes. In March 2020, long-term care facilities across the country went on lockdown, violating the resident’s rights to visitation and leaving residents to live in total isolation. For over a year, residents lived without visits from friends and family. Those friends and family members had previously participated in providing care and advocating for the needs of their loved ones. Residents suffered mentally, emotionally, and physically. Thousands died alone, never having the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones. For this reason, VOYCE joins long-term care resident advocates across the country in support of H.R. 3733.
FAILURE TO THRIVE
When long-term care facilities first went into lockdown, the intention was to protect residents and stop the spread of the virus. We now know that these restricted visitation policies caused great harm. Despite the lockdowns, facilities were ill-equipped to stop the virus. Nearly every facility across the country experienced a COVID outbreak. Decreased oversight, improper infection control, understaffing, a lack of PPE and testing supplies, and decades of neglecting advocates’ calls for policy reform resulted in the death of over 184,000 nursing home residents nationwide. Here in Missouri, we lost nearly 4,000 residents to COVID-19. It is estimated that for every two COVID-related deaths, another resident died from having lost their will to live. This is commonly referred to on a death certificate as ‘Failure to Thrive.’ For months now, long-term care resident advocates have sounded alarms on the dangers of restrictive visitation policies, and the Essential Caregivers Act would bring relief to these concerns.
H.R. 3733, also known as the Essential Caregivers Act, is a critical piece of legislation that would allow long-term care residents access to two designated caregivers during COVID-19 or any other public health emergency. But these designated individuals are not simply visitors; essential caregivers are the voice of vulnerable residents. They are responsible for providing direct care, assisting with Activities of Daily Living, and being a source of emotional support or companionship to the residents. Essential Caregivers will be required to follow all applicable health and safety protocols, and they will be granted facility access for twelve hours each day. The role of an Essential Caregiver is an important factor in resident health and wellbeing. During a public health emergency, we should be inviting them into facilities, not locking the doors barring access to their loved ones.
WHAT WE CAN DO TO ACT
VOYCE calls upon our state’s Congress(wo)men to restore the rights of long-term care residents. We can do this by supporting H.R. 3733. After a year of facility lockdowns, residents are still facing barriers to seeing their loved ones. The fast-spreading Delta variant means that more nursing home lockdowns are looming. The Essential Caregivers Act must be urgently passed as it is a compassionate step our nation can take in addressing resident cries for help.
Sign the petition from The National Consumer Voice urging Congress to reunite nursing home residents with their loved ones.
To connect with VOYCE around our statement on the Essential Caregivers Act please contact us.
Let the families visit!
As supporters of H.R. 3733, we agree that residents greatly benefit when they have access to their loved ones. If you haven’t already, make sure that you sign the petition: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/185/928/839/its-time-to-safely-reopen-nursing-homes/#updated and contact your representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
I worked first hand with residents in a retirement and assisted living home for 2 years now. Covid has taken such a huge toll on all of my residents but not seeing their family members has been the hardest. They deserve to know they’re still loved, cared for and thought about. I know there is ways we can set up covid symptom checks or another way to make it safe for both residents and family members to see each other throughout these hard times.
Maddie, thank you for the care that you provide for residents. We appreciate all of your hard work and your unique perspective on this issue. Voices like yours are incredibly important in advocacy efforts for residents in long-term care. If you haven’t already, make sure that you sign the petition: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/185/928/839/its-time-to-safely-reopen-nursing-homes/#updated and contact your representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Thank yiu
You are welcome, Carlene. VOYCE is always happy to support legislation that strives to improve the lives of those in long-term care. If you haven’t already, make sure that you sign the petition: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/185/928/839/its-time-to-safely-reopen-nursing-homes/#updated and contact your representative: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
I would love it to help or be apart something like this.
I believe we private individuals to go into NH’S. Unannounced and not just Mon-Fri 9-5, like mystery shoppers. Take down corrupt NH’S and Employees.
Connie, I am glad to see that you are passionate about helping older adults. If you would like to be involved in VOYCE’s advocacy efforts, you can sign up here: https://www.voycestl.org/how-help/policy-advocacy/become-advocate/