FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kate Kahn

April 15, 2020 Phone: 617.513.8849

Email: kahn@graymediagroup.com

STATEMENT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCATION

REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS FOR STAFFING NURSING HOMES
AND FUNDING WAGES

While we acknowledge and are grateful for Governor Baker's and Secretary
Sudders’ continued support for nursing home residents, their families and
caregivers, we believe the crisis situation warrants significant additional
investments for our frontline staff. Together with the Command Center, we are
making good progress on accessing testing and vital PPE, but we need to do more
to help protect and support our residents, their families and workforce, including
funding a double-time ‘hero’ wage.

Today, 40% of staffing positions are currently vacant due to the COVID-19
crisis. We are working diligently to identify pools of workers, utilize the state’s long
term care employment portal and we are offering as robust financial incentives as
we can afford to existing staff, but the stark reality is that we are unable to reach
the most basic staffing levels. The only way we believe we can meaningfully begin
to stabilize our staffing is for the state to provide a $130 million dollar monthly
investment to fund overtime costs, hiring of new staff and double time for ‘hero’s
pay’ for our frontline staff, and ensure their safety through the consistent
availability of PPE.

This unprecedented crisis requires unprecedented state investment.

Tara Gregorio, President, Massachusetts Senior Care Association