Congressional report on assisted living and COVID-19 looks more like a hatchet job than really trying to help.
Senators Warren and Markey’s report is in, and try counting how many times the word “federal” was used, as in there are no “federal” reporting requirements, data should be regularly reported to the “federal” government, assisted living facilities should receive support through “federal” programs, and on and on.
They had sent a very detailed questionnaire to the 11 largest assisted living operators, and found that 24% of the communities operated by them had at least one positive COVID-19 test, and 8% had outbreaks of at least 10 residents, with positive cases coming in at more than five times the national average. Well, their residents are old, frail and usually with several underlying health issues. Unfortunately, the prime candidates for this nasty virus.
The elected officials tried to paint a negative picture of assisted living communities, with death rates approaching those of nursing homes, inadequate paid sick leave, lack of testing and inadequate testing protocols, and shortages of PPE.
Well helloooo, welcome to the reality of dealing with COVID-19. Lack of testing? Where could they get the tests? Testing protocols? Kind of meaningless if you don’t have access to enough tests. I am not sure whether the intent of this investigation and report was to shame the assisted living industry, provide reasons for increased federal oversight, or to figure out a way the feds should maybe pay for some things – perhaps all three – and then move in on the sector.
As I have said during this pandemic, if you let the federal government in the door with their funding, there will be a quid pro quo, and you won’t like it.
Steve – I sent this letter to the New York Times last week:
The June 27 New York Times article, “43% of Us Corona Virus Deaths Are Linked To Nursing Homes” is misleading. Lumping “nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, memory care facilities, retirement and senior communities and rehabilitation facilities together is too wide a net to credibly address the subject. It suggests that all products are nursing homes and that none of the different types of senior facilities are safe. Yes. Nursing homes are hard hit by the Corona Virus. The other types of senior health and retirement communities have taken early and effective action to limit the spread of the virus. This industry does not benefit by a respected news institution publishing an article that lumps all kinds of institutions serving seniors together as if they are indistinguishable
Thanks Susan, yes, the reporting has been dreadful.
Steve, Your comments were spot on. I prefer to see politicians do what the Governor of Texas did… set up testing for skilled nursing and assisted living with on-site same day Covid-19 testing for residents and staff. Action; not talk.
Thanks Doug, that’s the way it should be happening.