Caregiving

1 in 5 Virginia Nursing Homes Reports Staffing Shortages

New AARP Analysis Shows Virginia COVID Cases and Deaths Declining in Nursing Homes; Chronic Issues Remain

As the Virginia General Assembly heads into the home stretch of the 2021 session, AARP Virginia continues to fight for legislation to help workers save for retirement, require prescription drug price transparency, and overhaul oversight of the state’s long-term care facilities.

Virginia nursing Homes are in crisis; Nearly half of all virus deaths in most recent four-week period were nursing home residents

When the Virginia General Assembly returns to work on Wednesday, AARP volunteers will ask lawmakers for legislation to help workers save for retirement, require prescription drug price transparency, and overhaul oversight of the state’s long-term care facilities.

The immunity that protects nursing homes from civil lawsuits shields them from accountability. Last year, the General Assembly extended that immunity, when it comes to COVID-19, to assisted living facilities, hospices and home care. AARP supports efforts to roll back that extennsion.

Since the start of the pandemic, deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes accounted for 32% of all deaths from the virus in the state, while representing only 3.2% of total cases.

Lily Liu, AARP Virginia, hosted Melissa Barber, VirginiaNavigator, for a Caring Conversation on November 13, 2020. In recognition of November as National Caregiver Month, they carried the message “Know you are not alone” to the community of caregivers. Liu began the conversation noting former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s observation on caregiving. She said there are really only four types of people in the world: (1) someone who is a family caregiver now, (2) someone who might have been a family caregiver and that journey has ended, (3) someone who will be a family caregiver, and (4) someone who themselves will need care.

Full of laughs, but a plethora of information, Garrett Davis’ The Return of Mama’s Girls presented by AARP Virginia is sure to be major hit with audiences of all ages.

Veteran and military caregivers are fighting on the frontlines in this pandemic in unprecedented ways. But AARP is here to offer guidance and assistance.