* From a letter to the Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities from 78 Illinois state legislators…
The COVID-19 public health crisis has our Country living through unprecedented times. Our State is under a stay- at-home order resulting in school closures, drastically altered restaurant operations, and banned gatherings of ten people or more. In the midst of this stay-at-home order, some services cannot stop and some workers must still report to the frontlines.
Nursing home workers are among those our state is depending on to show up and care for our loved ones. As elected officials – as Illinoisans – we owe them and their families a great deal of gratitude and deep appreciation. We are concerned to hear that there is not enough PPE being provided to workers in ALL job classifications in nursing homes. If we are going to flatten the curve of COVID-19, we have to provide the appropriate PPE, for workers and consumers to feel safe. Workers should be informed and trained on how to deal with COVID-19 in all facilities for their safety as well as the residents. Our collective goal is to save as many lives as possible and that can only be done when employers protect their employees.
In addition, these workers are among the lowest paid in the state. Last year the Illinois General Assembly took action to increase the reimbursement rates for nursing homes by $240 million. We supported this measure, in part because it was assured by the nursing home industry that a significant portion of this money would be spent on direct care staff – the very staff on the frontlines fighting back against COVID-19.
Unfortunately, we’ve learned that this hasn’t been the case as workers from over 100 nursing facilities are bargaining to finalize a contract before their current agreement expires at the end of this month. As some of the lawmakers who authorized this funding, we remain hopeful that the nursing home industry intends to offer their workers a contract that truly reflects the large increase in dollars that the industry was given. This also comes in light of news that the nursing home industry is asking for millions more in immediate state funding for purposes which are unclear. We are alarmed to learn of this request when the money previously authorized hasn’t yet been used for its intended purpose.
We urge the Illinois Association of Health Care Facilities to thoroughly consider their actions in this extremely trying time. Workers deserve respect and dignity. This starts with adequate personal protective equipment, a level of paid sick time that you would expect for yourself, and wages that don’t keep employees living in poverty.
If the COVID-19 public health pandemic has accomplished one thing it has uncovered the very real problem that frontline healthcare workers haven’t received the support, respect, and compensation they deserve to support themselves and their families. Please consider contributing to the solution. Now is the time to save lives – not pennies.
* Meanwhile, SEIU Healthcare has two new radio ads. First up, “She’s My Mom”…
Script…
My daughter cries every day when I go to work at a nursing home, not knowing if I’ll be safe.
I hear the cries of patients — crying because they’re getting sick, care workers are getting sick, and because nursing home owners refuse to help. Nursing-home workers — Black, brown, and white women — deserve a safe workplace and hazard pay for our work on the frontlines — we deserve to be able to protect our families and communities from getting sick. Because I’m not just a nursing-home worker —
[Daughter’s voice:] She’s my mom, too.
* “Profits Above Safety”…
Script…
I’m a Nursing home worker on the frontlines of this crisis. Other Black women, like me, are risking our lives everyday, working in unsafe workplaces, and not receiving hazard pay for our essential work. Across Illinois, residents in nursing homes are dying…. workers like me are dying.
We need nursing home owners to put our safety and our patients’ safety above their profits.
We are urging our lawmakers to get involved on behalf of our patients’ lives — and ours too.
Thoughts?
- 44th - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 12:01 pm:
The toughest area to deal with in so many ways. Should be the number #1 priority of government right now. One nursing home out east was down to 2 workers while the rest fled. Frankly it goes way beyond cleaning and facemarks. You have to question grouping the most vulnerable together when faced with this virus. Home health care and nursing support a better option whenever possible. But its expensive and labor intensive. Will we have the $ to protect these seniors? I hope so. No matter what maximum protocols need to be put in place to prevent the spread and maintain some level of care. Owners profits seem to be a fifth level concern. Too much spread and they will be out of business. Sick, elderly and health care is the sweet spot of what government should be all about.
- Generic Drone - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 12:10 pm:
My wife works at nursing homes. They consistently pay low wages and treat workers as disposable. Anyone who works in one, knows this.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 12:10 pm:
Legislators have a great point. It was no problem for the state to obtain plenty of PPE and no worry to have enough money to pay for it, so nursing homes have no cause to gripe whatsoever. /s
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 12:42 pm:
With respect to the second spot, the “nurse” doesn’t talk about PPE…just “Hazardous Pay” isn’t being provided.
So, which is it? My understanding is the DPH is providing PPE as soon as they get information about a particular facility.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 12:44 pm:
=== My understanding is the DPH is providing PPE===
No. Local public health departments are responsible for this. It’s up to the nursing homes to get it if they’re short.
- Laissez Faire - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 12:51 pm:
McConnell Says He Favors Allowing States to Declare Bankruptcy
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/mcconnell-says-he-favors-allowing-states-to-declare-bankruptcy
I guess he values airlines more than seniors living in nursing homes.
- Candy Dogood - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 12:57 pm:
===while the rest fled===
We should probably rethink using language like this. It’s the 21st century, I don’t believe employees have an obligation to their employers or to their jobs.
If the owner/operator/management is providing an unsafe working condition and not paying folks well enough to voluntarily risk it, why should we expect them to show up?
Describing it as “fleeing” a job seems to hearken back to some of our 19th century notions of labor and civil rights.
This is one of those instances where we shouldn’t be blaming the employee.
- Blue Dog Dem - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 1:10 pm:
I am having a hard time distinguishing Trumps claim that the states are in charge of testing, and our state saying it’s the nursing homes responsibility to get their PPE from local health depots.
As to long care facilities. Anyone care to guess the ratio of for profits vs non for profits in this state. Then ask yourself why that is.
- Upon Further Review - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 1:22 pm:
-“I don’t believe employees have an obligation to their employers or to their jobs”-
That is quite a statement. The dynamic is a two way street for certain.
Excellent employees would rather not be associated with employees who would adopt the “I take have no obligation or responsibility attitude”.
A more accurate read is that good employees are worth their weight in gold many times over. In part, because they do not possess the attitude projected here. In my experience, it is the high performers and those who care that want those who don’t voted off of the island at the earliest interval.
- Earnest - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 1:34 pm:
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123977
It’s also beginning to feel like the tone is changing from “keep our human service system intact” to more traditional state budget priorities (which is not human services). Are all vendors who have contracts with the state going to be means-tested or only the ones who work with people who are poor, sick, or have disabilities?
- Just Sayin ... - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 2:32 pm:
The PPEs from the state should have gone directly to nursing home facilities instead to every county public health center. The state NEEDS to have an aggressive NH and Support of Living Plan that makes industry and the state partners. Ie like it is with hospitals.
- Anon - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 2:44 pm:
Desperately need a coordinated state response. Not all nursing homes are under one assn. Need answers from the state in testing, employee protection, and how to handle human remains. State needs to step up with communication and assistance. Would these same 78 legislators put all the blame on other small businesses operators?
- SaulGoodman - Wednesday, Apr 22, 20 @ 3:42 pm:
**Would these same 78 legislators put all the blame on other small businesses operators?**
Did those small business operators receive $240 million in new money from the state this year, and not have any of the money flow to workers?