Senator Rachel May to Lead Nursing Home Hearings

Syracuse, NY - Senator Rachel May (D-Onondaga, Madison, Oneida), who chairs the Senate Committee on Aging, is one of three Senators who will lead the Legislature’s joint hearings on nursing homes and COVID-19. A hearing on August 3rd will focus on Downstate nursing homes, and one on August 10th will focus on Upstate nursing homes. 

Together with Senator Gustavo Rivera, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator James Skoufis, chair of the Senate Committee on Investigations and Government Operations, and their Assembly counterparts, Senator May will use the hearings to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on nursing home residents, families, and staff and review the process and impact of policy-making with respect to nursing home operations in the pandemic, with the ultimate goal of assuring best practices moving forward.

“Our nursing homes and adult care facilities have been the hotbed of this pandemic,” said Senator Rachel May. “We must do better to protect those who live or work in these facilities from future such crises. While the Committee on Aging does not have direct oversight of nursing homes, we certainly play an important role in promoting the well-being of all seniors. My office has been very active in advocating for more attention to the quality of life of nursing home residents, the rights of their families to clear information and access, and the working conditions of staff. I have also been vocal about the need for more support for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, which can assist residents and families in addressing problems before they spiral out of control. These hearings will provide a platform for thorough investigation so we can take legislative action to assure that our most vulnerable seniors never face this level of risk again.”
 

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