The NYS Legislature will be holding hearings to review New York State’s rate of infection and mortality due to COVID-19 in residential health care facilities on August 3 & August 10.  There will also be a hearing on hospital care during the pandemic on August 12.  More detail on how to have your voice heard will be posted soon.  NY StateWide Senior Action Council will plan to testify and asks that you share your stories with us to be included in our testimony.  Do you know someone who was in a nursing home or assisted living facility – how was their experience?  Did family members have an avenue to get timely information?  What was the impact of visitors and ombudsmen being shut out? If you could make changes to improve quality of care and communications, what ideas would you want us to convey?   Email your story to statewide4@gmail.com.

Additionally, the federal government has appointed a Commission on Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes.  The Commission began meeting in early July; it is tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of the nursing home response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to inform current efforts to safeguard the health and quality of life of residents, and prepare for future threats to resident safety and public health.  They are accepting ideas and suggestions from the public until 5 p.m. Friday, July 17.  You can simply indicate if you want to show your concern for nursing home residents or nursing home staff, you just have to enter your contact information at the link.  Or you can provide the Commission with your perspective based on an experience with nursing homes. In this case, comments are limited to 500 characters.  To submit your thoughts, go to: https://sites.mitre.org/nhcovidcomm/public-engagement/   CMS anticipates the Commission’s final report in fall of 2020.

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