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Nation’s Largest Health Care Union Announces March 18 a ‘Day of Action’ in Events Across NYS

March 18, 2021 by Inside Press

1199SEIU Healthcare Worker East members, the nation’s largest healthcare union, has announced that thousands of its members, who comprise the nation’s largest healthcare union, will participate in a Day of Action at over 200 nursing homes across New York State. Per a news release, they are calling on Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature “to work together to pass real nursing home reform that ensures nursing homes invest in resident care rather than profits. “More than 200 actions will take place across the state (see map,  https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1cc4nXC4W7W4pr6ZLw2hHfMoeiKABtx1g&usp=sharing) with more than 15 taking place in Westchester County.

The union released the following additional  information to New York media and have invited coverage at Cortlandt Manor Nursing Home from 2-4 p.m.:  “Nursing home workers all over New York have been standing up and taking action in the name of change for their residents, their co-workers, and themselves,” said Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU’s Nursing Home Division.

“They have dealt with so much over the last year, and they are standing together to demand the reforms that could have saved the lives of their residents and even their own colleagues. They are united and they are ready to keep up the fight until the industry makes the changes needed to prioritize resident care and the well-being of workers over profits.”

A Demand for Legislative Action

The widespread Day of Action is the latest in the union’s Invest in Quality Care campaign, launched last month to urge legislative action to reform New York’s nursing home system and ensure residents get the quality care they deserve. Ads are running across New York featuring workers and families of nursing home residents calling on the state to act now.

 

 “Most days there are not enough CNAs to meet the needs of the 40 residents I care for,” said Debbie Ciavarra, an LPN for more than 30 years at Cortlandt Healthcare. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times–nurses cannot do our jobs without CNAs. They are essential to the care program. Residents depend on their CNAs.  It has been devastating for a year now, since the pandemic meant that families could not visit. And yet there is frequent turnover and a constant shortage of nursing assistants because to put it bluntly, their work is not valued by the owners.  Ironic, since the “nursing” home could not operate without nurses and nurse assistants.”  I’m telling Albany lawmakers that this needs to be fixed now!”

 

“Leaders in Albany have heard 1199SEIU workers’ call for reforms and have begun the process of passing key policies that would improve transparency and accountability, and ensure nursing home operators are making the investments necessary to provide the most vulnerable in New York with the quality care they deserve. With their action, nursing home caregivers are pressing to ensure that any reform enacted will actually improve conditions in the homes, by forcing operators to spend more on resident care and provide sufficient hours of hands-on care.

 

“Last week, the State Assembly passed a series of bills focused on improving transparency and accountability in nursing homes, including one requiring that operators invest a minimum of 70% of their overall revenue on resident care, including 40% on staffing, and another preventing owners with poor track records from purchasing additional homes. The State Senate has advanced similar legislation, and Governor Cuomo included nursing home reform policies in his 2021 budget proposal. 1199SEIU members across New York are calling on the Governor and Legislature to come together and finalize these urgently-needed reforms–including minimum hours of care for residents–as part of the State budget process.”

 

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: 1199SEIU Healthcare Worker East, CNA, Day of Action, elderly, Health Care Union, Nursing Homes, reform

Staying Connected with Elderly Family Members

November 13, 2020 by Christine Pasqueralle

Photo courtesy of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living

For many people, the holiday season is a time filled with joy and gathering with loved ones. Now more than ever people look forward to what the new year may bring and to bidding a (not so fond) farewell to 2020. But for many families, the challenge and difficulty of safely visiting with loved ones who live in assisted living facilities continue. How can families stay connected to one another during this time and encourage togetherness while also keeping loved ones healthy and safe?

Lisa Newcomb is the Executive Director of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living (ESAAL) and the organization represents over 300 of the 545 licensed assisted living communities in New York State. The ESAAL advocates for these communities through legislation and providing education for member administrators, directors and other management personnel. Speaking with Newcomb one gains a sense of what life has been like for residents of assisted living facilities during the pandemic as well as the steps being taken now to regain some sense of normalcy for senior residents and their families, especially as the holiday season approaches.

As Newcomb states, it has been a rough road for everyone involved from the beginning of the pandemic when there was a major lack of PPE available and a struggle to get supplies.

“One death is too many, so getting PPE is critical to any ongoing on-site visitation,” said Newcomb. As infection rates decreased, visits began to resume but, as she says, it can still be a hardship for many. “It’s taking a toll on residents and family members too. The staff are doing their best to fill in for family members,” she said, adding that no one can take the place of your own child.

Assisted living residences are known as being very social places. Many residents are mobile, active, and like to socialize with one another, with their family and friends, as well as take trips out of the facility. By July, visitation was allowed with rules in place. If anyone tested positive for Covid-19, visitation was shut down for 28 days. By September, the rule changed to a 14-day shutdown, and this has had some positive impact on visitation rates. Residents are encouraged to conduct visits outside with some circumstances allowing for indoor visits in a well-ventilated room with supervised social distancing.

Facilitating Visits

As the weather gets colder, it may become increasingly harder to visit with loved ones in-person if the rules stay as they are. Fortunately, there are other ways families can keep connected. Staff can facilitate virtual visits (such as FaceTime) with residents and family–seniors who are grandparents especially love to see the faces of and talk to their grandchildren. But nothing can fully take the place of an in-person visit especially for residents who have dementia and trouble comprehending; they may feel abandoned or forgotten by family.

There are clever ways some assisted living facilities are handling holiday visits. One facility rented a construction trailer for the next six months: it is heated, big enough for one to two visits at a time and is ADA compliant. Seeing family in-person can be the one bright spot in a resident’s day. Newcomb said she is hopeful small gatherings for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukah will be allowed so long as there are no cases of Covid-19. In the past, holiday gatherings have taken place in the dining room with visits from community and family members.

“The rates are so low, so hopefully clusters can be controlled quickly and stopped. It has an emotional impact on the elderly–assisted living is the place to be doing things.” Residents want to get out, visit with loved ones and do activities together. “Seniors move into assisted living to live–not to be confined to their room or apartment without visitors. Activities can be done safely keeping in mind that our residents’ mental health well-being is as important as their physical health.”

As the holidays approach, let’s all remember those in assisted living, and hope they are allowed the dignity of a visit with their loved ones this season.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Assisted living, COVID, elderly, PPE, safety, Visits

Assisted Living Week Celebrated at The Greens in Greenwich

September 21, 2017 by The Inside Press

Greenwich, CT– A good time, had by all. The Greens staff, creative arts therapists, chefs, nurses, housekeepers, resident assistants, residents and families all helped make National Assisted Living Week a memorable week of fun, food, music, dance and celebrating all kinds of families.

Schedule a Tour

203.531.5500

Visit thegreensatgreenwich.com

 

Filed Under: Sponsor News! Tagged With: Assisted living, Dementia, elderly, Event, fun, horses, Ice Cream, The Greens

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