Health & Wellbeing

AARP Connecticut sent the below letter to Governor Ned Lamont calling for a continued focus on the need to equitably, safely and effectively distribute COVID-19 vaccines.

The following post was submitted by Phyllis Ayman, an eldercare advisor, author, family care strategist and mediator, advocate, speech/language pathologist, speaker and trainer for the public and private sector, and holds various certifications for dementia training. She’s worked with thousands of residents, families, and health care workers in almost 50 nursing homes during a career that spans 45+ years. Ayman brings informative conversations to the senior years of our lives as host and creator of the SeniorsSTRAIGHTTalk podcast, including with AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan.

AARP Connecticut issued the following statement in response to recent news that Governor Ned Lamont has informed legislative leaders he intends to extend the state’s Executive Orders until April 20:

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented public health crisis, and despite the best efforts of government officials and healthcare workers, nearly 13,000 Connecticut nursing home residents have contracted the virus since March, and more than 3,600 residents have died. These devastating losses have exposed long-standing and serious deficiencies in the systems that we rely on to serve older adults and people with disabilities.

The following post was submitted by Dr. Dana Wade, founder of Monitor My Health, Inc. The non-profit organization, fully recognized by the CDC, has delivered much-needed prevention services to underserved and minority communities, and elder groups since 2016. The program is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurances. For more information, please go to www.monitormyhealth.org website, call (203) 683-5946 & (860) 960 2610, or email Admin@monitormyhealth.org.

AARP Connecticut is pleased that the State has convened a Nursing Home and Assisted Living Oversight Working Group to discuss the impact of COVID-19 and how to protect residents moving forward. However, we are very disappointed that this working group, despite having 34 members, does not include a single person who resides in a nursing home or assisted living facility, or who receives long-term supports and services in a community setting.

We may be physically apart, but AARP continues to provide valuable information and resources in communities across Connecticut through a wide variety of free educational and fun online events, including our weekly Webinar Wednesday series.

The significant and unprecedented challenges nursing homes and other residential care facilities are facing due to the pandemic has created an urgent and vital need for increased accountability to ensure the safety and health of their residents. The June 8 Washington Post article (As nursing home residents died, new covid-19 protections shielded companies from lawsuits. Families say that hides the truth.) illustrates the urgent need for policy changes.

View the latest information and articles from AARP Connecticut.

AARP is providing information and resources about COVID-19 to help older Connecticut residents, and their families protect themselves from the virus and prevent it from spreading to others.