Our Needs
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
The need for PPE in nursing homes is great. For each patient placed in isolation, staff must have access to 22 full sets of PPE for each 24 hour period. Alabama will be receiving funds from the federal government for PPE, nursing homes should be given priority status for those funds to protect the most vulnerable and those who care for them
testing availability
Research shows access to testing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic people is critical to prevent outbreaks. The ability to test and receive results quickly is crucial. The CDC currently lists nursing residents and staff as Priority Level 2 for testing. This must change.
Workforce
Before the COVID-19 crisis, Alabama nursing homes were seeking more than 1,000 employees to work in their buildings. As staff members contract the virus themselves, it only compounds our need for workforce.
funding
State and federal policy makers are tasked with appropriating funds for the health care sector to fight COVID-19. Nursing homes need funding for purchasing PPE, workforce development and testing for residents and staff. Policy makers must keep our needs in mind as they allocate funding.