July 22, 2020—Tuesday evening, July 21, LeadingAge President and CEO, Katie Smith Sloan told NBC Nightly News that aging services providers are getting hit by COVID-19 like “a category-5 hurricane.” The national news story was an outcome of coverage driven by a national/local press conference Monday and is part of LeadingAge’s urgent effort to weigh in with its messages right now as Congress works on the next COVID-19 relief legislation.
LeadingAge posted the message below in conjunction with the June 17 posting of its “Act for Older Adults” video on YouTube.
“We are calling on all Americans to contact Congress to Act for Older Adults! #Act4OlderAdults The #COVID19 pandemic is NOT over, we need the federal government to better protect older adults from the #coronavirus NOW.
“At LeadingAge we work with over 5,000 nonprofit aging services members around the country. We know what they need to keep their older adult clients and residents safe. In addition to needing leadership and resources from the Administration, aging services providers are also in dire need of Congressional action. That’s why we’re launching a campaign to urge Congress act this summer to provide resources to protect older Americans from infection spikes and a coronavirus second wave.
“We sent a letter to every member of Congress, calling on them to adopt a comprehensive relief package to safeguard older adults and care workers. This package, based on LeadingAge’s Five Essential Actions, calls on Congress to provide a range of resources, including:
- Ample and appropriate #PPE supplies
- Accurate and rapid-results #testing and the funds to cover costs
- Hero pay, paid sick leave, and #healthcare coverage for heroic frontline workers who are risking their own lives serving older people during this crisis
- And a $100 billion-dollar dedicated emergency fund to help #nursinghomes and other aging services providers protect older residents and clients.
“Please share this video with your networks and learn more at leadingage.org.”