The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted
Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and long term
care facilities across the country that provide care to approximately five
million people each year, released the following statement after members of the
newly-formed Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes
were announced by MITRE on June 19.
The following statement is attributable to Mark Parkinson, president and
CEO of AHCA/NCAL:
“We are pleased to see a variety of stakeholders named to the Commission,
including dedicated providers and valued partners Debra Fournier, Camille
Jordan, Dr. Rosie Lyles, Neil Pruitt, Jr., and Janet Snipes. These
professionals have devoted their lives to serving our nation’s seniors and
improving the quality of care in America’s long term care facilities. Their
leadership at the national level, including with AHCA/NCAL, will serve the
Commission well as it evaluates ways to protect our most vulnerable from
COVID-19.
“Bringing providers, residents, families, experts and policymakers
together is essential in fostering a more collaborate approach to addressing
this once-in-a-century crisis. Nursing homes cannot beat this pandemic alone,
and focusing on enforcement and penalties neither recognizes the nature of the
virus nor solves the problem. Providers need the support of public health
officials to prioritize our residents and help facilities acquire the necessary
resources. We hope the independent Commission will address this critical need.
“As the Commission begins its work, nursing homes and other long term
care facilities are still in the day-to-day battle of keeping the virus at bay.
Providers continue to face ongoing challenges in accessing and affording
surveillance testing, personal protective equipment and additional staff
support. Meanwhile, many states are re-opening portions of society, which is
contributing to an increase in cases in some areas of the country. We want to
get residents out of isolation and adapt visitations, so they can safely see
loved ones again. But we must remain vigilant as research indicates that
community spread is correlated with outbreaks in nursing homes, and we have yet
to receive the level of resources we need.
“We look forward to working with the Commission as it conducts this
important work, but long term care facilities need immediate assistance now.
Public health officials at every level can help in this effort by prioritizing
long term care for testing, PPE, staffing and funding. Let’s work together now
and in the coming months to rally around our nation’s Greatest Generation and
our frontline heroes.”
AHCA/NCAL recently put together a webinar recording on
economic impact payments (EIPs) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and
important facts for skilled nursing facilities, ICFs/IID, and assisted living
communities to know on the use of them. IRS began issuing electronic EIPs on or
about April 15 to people who received a tax refund electronically.
The webinar covers what EIPs are and what steps providers
should take to protect beneficiaries receiving this benefit. EIP funds belong
to the resident and they make decisions about fund use or may request
assistance and guidance (such supports are acceptable). The recording also
covers whether a resident can give their EIP funds to a family member and what
to do if EIP funds are being misused. Finally, a variety of resources from the
Social Security Administration to the National Center on Elder Law and Rights
are available at the end of the webinar to find further information that will
be of assistance. More information on
this recording can be found here.
In
an effort to showcase both COVID-19 recoveries and the long term care heroes
who make these recoveries possible, we have launched a page on CareNotCOVID.com titled “Faces of Care.”
The landing page, CareNotCOVID.com/faces,
features a gallery of residents who have recovered from COVID-19 as well as
long term care staff who have stepped up to keep residents safe during the
pandemic. There is also a form on the website to collection submissions of
stories of hope from long term care facilities across the country. We are using
news stories that we receive, videos and other testimonials.
On
AHCA/NCAL social channels, we will continue to use the hashtag #CareNotCOVID to
encourage others to share their stories and gain traffic to the site – serving
our larger goal of continuing to push out positive, real-world examples of hope
and support for long term care residents and caregivers.
AHCA/NCAL began
a social media advocacy initiative last year and is encouraging all members to
get involved. The effort focuses on
improving the overall image of the post-acute and long term care profession by
sharing positive stories and pushing back on pieces that attempt to tie all
providers to isolated negative events.
AHCA/NCAL
will be sending interested members tips for getting more involved on social
media, best practices for posting content, sample posts, and a roundup of
positive stories about the profession on a regular basis. Individuals who want
to get involved should email socialmedia@ahca.org to get on the mailing list.
The
campaign also will include a rapid response to stories that are unfairly
negative about the profession or do not accurately portray the reality of
post-acute and long term care. AHCA/NCAL
hopes to build on these successes as the year continues. With thousands of
buildings nationwide who touch the lives of millions of people, there is the
chance to seriously affect the way the profession is viewed and treated by
lawmakers and the media.
July 2020 marks, among other
observances, Eye Injury
Prevention Month,
UV Safety Month, National
Therapeutic Recreation Week (July 5-11), and National
Parents’ Day
(July 26). The 2020 Healthcare
Observances Calendar can be found here.
