Congressman Kildee: 'We have to do more to protect seniors'

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee took part in a telephone town hall on May 6, hosted by AARP Michigan, which focused on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 5^th District Congressman answered a host of questions from the listening audience of 2,000 about federal stimulus checks, protecting residents of nursing homes, availability of testing and personal protection equipment and other issues.

Kildee said the federal response has been strong, most recently providing $310 billion for small business relief, $75 billion for more personal protection equipment for health care workers and $25 billion for expansion of testing.

But, he added: “We have to do more to support seniors, families and small businesses.”

He focused much of the hour-long conversation on the ongoing crisis in nursing homes in Michigan and across the country.

“Long-term care facilities are representing a shockingly high percentage of deaths,” Kildee said. “We have to do more to protect seniors in these facilities.”

He said he is sponsoring a bill to that would provide grants for technology so families can “virtually visit” their loved ones in nursing homes. The better families can monitor parents or other loved ones, the greater the possibility that care will improve, he said.

Kildee also called for quicker and higher quality data from nursing homes about who is infected so policy makers can be better informed about how to protect long-term care residents.

The Congressman also is sponsoring a bill that would allow withdrawals from investment accounts to be paused during 2020 so retirees won’t have to suffer the full effects of the COVID-battered economy on their savings.

Among the questions he received during the call:

Will we get a second federal stimulus check?

“Discussions are going on now,” Kildee said. “I support additional stimulus checks so people can spend money during this shutdown that will help keep our neighbors employed.”

I have auto-immunity issues. I want to know if I qualify to get a test done even though I’m not sick?

“We’re getting mixed signals from the federal government” about availability of testing, he said, adding that the President needs to use the Defense Production Act to ramp up manufacture of swabs, lab kits and other materials. “I think anybody who wants a test should be able to do that.”

I don’t have access to the internet at home, so I can’t get the information I need. What do I do?

Kildee conceded this is a problem and invited listeners to call his office number for answers to questions. His number is: 810-238-8627.

Nursing homes have to accept people with the coronavirus if they have beds available. The issue then becomes making sure staff is vigilant about getting tested and protecting residents. What can be done to see that this happens?

The Congressman said nursing home staff often cannot access the necessary personal protection equipment, so resources must be made available. He added: “We must have strong standards and we must enforce those standards.”

A two-question unscientific poll was conducted during the call.

When listeners were asked what are their greatest concerns about the pandemic, 47 percent said getting tested, 39 percent said meeting financial obligations, and 14 percent said protection of loved ones in nursing homes.

When asked about the most important issues for the President and Congress to address in 2020, 73 percent said protecting Social Security, 17 percent said access to health care including reduced prescription drug prices, and 10 percent said more support for in-home care.