Jamie Harding, Alabama State Director, Communications AARP

ALABAMA DEMANDS ACTION AS NURSING HOME CRISIS CONTINUES IN ALABAMA
More than 700 residents and staff in Alabama nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have died from COVID-19; facilities continue to be in grave danger

•In Alabama, more than 700 residents and staff in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have died from COVID-19. Older Americans in these facilities continue to be in grave danger, yet many measures to protect them are still not in place.

•AARP is urging Governor Kay Ivey and lawmakers to act immediately to enact commonsense policies that will save lives.

•Jamie K. Harding, Alabama Associate State Director, Communications, will outline what AARP is doing to help advocate for those most at risk, and what the organization believes is necessary to help curtail the crisis in Alabama, including:

oRegular and ongoing testing;
oImproved transparency focused on daily, public reporting of cases and deaths in facilities;
oImproved communication with families about discharges and transfers;
oRequired access to facilitated virtual visitation, and established timelines, milestones and accountability for in-person visitation; and
oEnhanced quality of care for residents through adequate staffing, oversight, and access to in-person formal advocates.