Roughly 80% of coronavirus deaths are among older adults. Now some nursing home executives were calling on lawmakers to provide some financial relief. But some providers, including one from Arizona, may have to wait even longer for a lifeline.
Pam Koester is the CEO of LeadingAge Arizona. Members include not-for-profit nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Koester and other aging services providers want congress to allocate more money for things like testing, PPE and staffing. Earlier this spring, the federal government sent supplies to nursing homes.
"But the reality was the nursing homes only received a 14 day supply of out-a-date, not appropriate, unusable PPE supplies worth in its best day, maybe $80. Providers are spending approximately $67,000 per month on PPE requirements and precautions," she said.
Koester said they were expired by a couple of years.
Testing is also causing financial hardships for some communities here.
"Our members recognize the importance of testing staff and residents and at this time, they're paying approximately $83,000 per month on testing alone," Koester said. "Where are they going to find the $1 million just for testing next year?"
Koester called on Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSallty to pass a COVID-19 relief bill that supports the long term care industry. On Thursday, a relief package failed in the U.S. Senate.
