STATEMENT of AARP CALIFORNIA STATE DIRECTOR NANCY McPHERSON – NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS

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In recent weeks, AARP has grown increasingly concerned at the rapid increase in the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 in our state’s nursing facilities. Like all Californians, we were deeply disturbed at the news that staff of the Magnolia Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Riverside failed to show up for their shifts, necessitating action by Riverside County to care for and move the residents.

While we appreciate the actions that California’s elected and healthcare leaders have taken to address the crisis, and the opportunities for organizations like ours to partner with Governor Newsom on outreach to older adults, we believe that additional steps must be taken to protect residents of California’s nursing facilities. Of particular concern is the fact that some families remain in the dark about the care that their loved ones are receiving, that facilities do not have access to adequate PPEs, are not communicating to families quickly about developing COVID-19 cases in facilities, and that the workers on the frontlines are completely overwhelmed. Moreover, we are concerned that residents of California’s assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, Veteran’s Administration homes, and other long-term care facilities may be finding themselves in similarly distressing circumstances.

In short, California’s system of long-term services & supports (LTSS) must be more coherent and transparent. In particular, AARP is calling on California’s elected officials and state regulators to:

· Make public the names of nursing facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases;

· Require that family members of COVID-19-positive residents be alerted of any plans to transfer these residents to other facilities;

· Ensure that all nursing homes are adequately staffed to meet current demand;

· Ensure that all nursing facilities and assisted living facilities have access to the necessary PPE to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among staff and residents;

· Work to ensure that during this time when physical visits are prohibited, nursing facilities allow and facilitate virtual visitation and/or telephone communication between residents and their families;

· Make public the standards of care used by the state during this period of crisis.

The scope of this pandemic is like nothing we have seen in our lifetimes, and the actions that we take today will have lasting impacts as the effects of COVID-19 linger for months or years. AARP stands ready to work with elected officials and state regulators to implement measures to ensure transparent and timely communications for nursing home residents and their families, as well as other steps to ensure the safety and protection of the most vulnerable Californians.

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