Connecticut-based Masonicare was among the first senior living providers to announce a staff COVID-19 vaccine mandate back in December 2020, when vaccines first became available. So when a staff member tested positive for the virus in July, the provider’s number one priority was to avoid a repeat of 2020.
National senior housing operator Meridian Senior Living on Wednesday joined a growing list of senior living providers in announcing a staff COVID-19 vaccine mandate, calling it “one more preventative measure” to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
With Senate passage of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal on Tuesday, the senior living industry is breathing a sigh of relief that Provider Relief Funds emerged unscathed.
The American Seniors Housing Association has joined the growing chorus of industry groups offering support for COVID-19 vaccination mandates for long-term care residents and workers.
With Senate passage of the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure deal on Tuesday, the senior living industry is breathing a sigh of relief that Provider Relief Funds emerged unscathed. And now they are calling on the federal government to release those unspent dollars.
A bill to reauthorize funding for programs that prevent elder abuse also would provide $400 million annually for states to enhance education and training for direct care workers in long-term care settings.
Following the lead of at least 40 senior living providers and other national industry groups, Argentum announced its support for employer COVID-19 vaccination mandates for the senior living workforce.
Biden administration officials are considering withholding funds from long-term-care providers that they say aren’t doing enough to encourage employee vaccinations, according to unnamed sources quoted in a Friday Washington Post article.
“I have completely changed what I believe as a clinician in mandating the vaccine, because unvaccinated people, staff or visitors are really the only vector that’s going to expose residents to the virus again,” said Michael Wasserman, M.D.
Multistate senior living operators have much to stay on top of as some states impose new COVID-related measures amid federal masking recommendations and increased transmission rates from virus variants, whereas other states move to prohibit such measures. And even operators with business limited to one state can be hampered by state orders, laws and regulations that dictate how they respond to the pandemic.
