Warren, Markey investigation estimates 7,000 coronavirus deaths in assisted living facilities

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey are calling for more federal oversight of assisted living facilities alongside their release of a devastating report that estimates some 7,000 residents of the centers may have died from coronavirus nationwide.

The investigation released Thursday by the Massachusetts Democrats along with U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., found high rates of coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths, inadequate testing and shortages of personal protective equipment across assisted living facilities run by the nation’s 11 largest operators.

Nearly one in four of the assisted living facilities included in the survey reported at least one positive coronavirus test among residents, with 8% recording outbreaks of 10 cases or more. Residents tested positive at a rate of 2.9% compared to the national rate of 0.5%. Forty-three percent of those who tested positive were hospitalized, while 31% died.

Based on the data, the senators estimate more than 7,000 assisted living facility residents nationwide may have died from COVID-19 through the end of May.

“Our investigation found assisted living centers are facing a COVID-19 crisis that is almost as bad as the crisis in nursing homes — but without being subject to the same regulations or oversight, and with no help from the federal government,” Warren said in a statement.

None of the operators surveyed said they conducted routine daily or weekly testing, nor were they reporting cases and deaths to the federal government, citing a lack of testing capacity and a lack of federal reporting requirements. Providers reported “tremendous financial and logistical difficulties” securing personal protective equipment for staff.

The senators also blasted the operators for offering inadequate paid leave for frontline workers with confirmed or suspected infections.

The investigation prompted the lawmakers to introduced the Assisted Living Facility Coronavirus Reporting Act to require reporting from centers and from states. The bill would also apply future COVID-19 reporting requirements for nursing homes to assisted living facilities.

“We are simply not doing enough to protect our seniors or workers in assisted living homes,” Markey said in a statement. “We need to put in place stricter requirements on these facilities.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2NMWet8