File #: 20-2577    Version: 1 Name: SAVE OUR SENIORS
Type: Resolution Status: Approved
File created: 5/20/2020 In control: Health & Hospitals Committee
On agenda: 5/21/2020 Final action: 7/30/2020
Title: PROPOSED RESOLUTION SAVE OUR SENIORS WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate nursing homes and long-term care facilities throughout the county, state and nation; and WHEREAS, one-third of all U.S. Coronavirus deaths are nursing home residents or workers; and WHEREAS, at least 28,100 residents and workers have died from coronavirus at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for older adults in the United States; and WHEREAS, the majority of workers at nursing homes and long-term care facilities are Black and Brown women that receive low wages and are currently working without adequate protective equipment; and WHEREAS, corporate operated nursing homes average higher rates of abuse, complaint, fines and staffing shortages; and WHEREAS, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports 351 facilities are facing outbreaks. Of those, 60% were cited for infection control violations; and WHEREAS, nursing homes and long-term facilities account for 11,437 c...
Sponsors: BRANDON JOHNSON, FRANK J. AGUILAR, ALMA E. ANAYA, LUIS ARROYO JR, SCOTT R. BRITTON, JOHN P. DALEY, DENNIS DEER, BRIDGET DEGNEN, BRIDGET GAINER, BILL LOWRY, DONNA MILLER, STANLEY MOORE, KEVIN B. MORRISON, SEAN M. MORRISON, PETER N. SILVESTRI, DEBORAH SIMS, LARRY SUFFREDIN
title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION

SAVE OUR SENIORS

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate nursing homes and long-term care facilities throughout the county, state and nation; and

WHEREAS, one-third of all U.S. Coronavirus deaths are nursing home residents or workers; and

WHEREAS, at least 28,100 residents and workers have died from coronavirus at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for older adults in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the majority of workers at nursing homes and long-term care facilities are Black and Brown women that receive low wages and are currently working without adequate protective equipment; and

WHEREAS, corporate operated nursing homes average higher rates of abuse, complaint, fines and staffing shortages; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reports 351 facilities are facing outbreaks. Of those, 60% were cited for infection control violations; and

WHEREAS, nursing homes and long-term facilities account for 11,437 coronavirus cases and 1,563 deaths; these facilities account for 46% of all COVID-19 deaths in the state of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, $240 million in state funds already allocated to nursing homes; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, to mitigate the spread of novel coronavirus and prevent deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Cook County:

1. Long term Care facilities must conduct regular universal testing for all residents and staff
2. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities will disclose all COVID-19 case and deaths to residents, family members, Illinois Department of Health and the Center for Disease Control
3. Nursing home staff who have tested positive for coronavirus will be given15 days paid sick leave
4. Nursing home staff will be given hazard pay due to the "clear and present danger" of working in facilities with limited Personal Protective Equipment ("PPE") and high rates of coronavirus infections
5. Local, state, and federal governments will...

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