The Lead February 23, 2021
Top Stories:
From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO
LeadingAge Illinois, Chicago Methodist Senior Services Hold Partners in Quality Virtual Visit with House Majority Leader Harris
Partners in Quality Congressional Virtual Visit Held with Office of U.S. Rep Miller
New Staff Member at DoA
Nursing and Rehabilitation:
Five Star Reports
Other:
N95 Fit Testing Services
Personal Protective Equipment Update
Support the LeadingAge Illinois PAC
LeadingAge Coronavirus Update Calls
Top Stories:
From the Desk of Karen Messer, President and CEO:
As Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge mentioned on a recent Coronavirus update call, national will need to use our voices in stereo to ensure that U.S. Congress and the new Administration works to enact laws and policies that will directly help our members. Right now, Congress is debating the next COVID-19 relief bill and while the House measures are pretty solid at this point, there is still time to get added relief in the U.S. Senate bill. Please join LeadingAge Illinois and national in our advocacy campaign and take action here. Additional tools and resources for the 100 days of advocacy campaign are here.
With gratitude,
Karen
LeadingAge Illinois, Chicago Methodist Senior Services Hold Partners in Quality Virtual Visit with House Majority Leader Harris
Bill Lowe, president and CEO, of Chicago Methodist Senior Services, and staff took part in our 20th Partners in Quality Virtual Visit of 2021. The visit with the House Majority Leader, Rep. Greg Harris (D-13th District; Chicago).
Bill has been with the organization for 31 years. Also from Bill’s team was Rosemarie Policarpio, vice president of nursing, Jay Evans, vice president of operations/administrator, and Diana Bautista, director of human resources.
Bill discussed the impact of HB3360, as bill that allows for recovery of prejudgement interest (9%) in personal injury cases. He further discussed the large impact this would have on nursing homes, whose Act already requires payment of attorneys fees.
Rosemarie provided an update on the success of their vaccination program, which has seen 100% of residents accept the vaccine and also over 90% of staff. Jay talked about what they have done to fight COVID and keep residents and staff safe. He also explained the significant costs to do so with PPE and other items.
Jay also discussed the importance of the Temporary Nursing Assistant (TNA) program, which has been valuable to the organization. “They are some of our best staff,” remarked Jay. The program was not extended after the January 18 termination, but LeadingAge Illinois continues to ask legislators and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to reinstitute the program and make it permanent.
Bill discussed the settings LeadingAge Illinois represents and encouraged Rep. Harris to work with LeadingAge Illinois on solutions to staffing needs.
Rep. Harris said that a trailer bill on the mandated coverage of COVID testing will be introduced this session. LeadingAge Illinois requested the inclusion of assisted and supportive living, as the bill that passed in the lame duck session only included nursing homes. Rep. Harris said those settings should be included. He also will follow up on the concerns with HB3360. LeadingAge Illinois and the associations took part in a Sunday meeting this week with Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-113th District; Belleville) and Senate Democratic Chief of Staff Jake Butcher on concerns with the bill and the need for a trailer bill, if the Governor signs it. Harris will discuss it with Hoffman. He also plans to follow up with LeadingAge Illinois on the funding needs for the next relief bill. He has been discussing needs with the Illinois Congressional Delegation.
If you would like to schedule a Partners in Quality visit, contact Jason Speaks.
Partners in Quality Congressional Virtual Visit Held with Office of U.S. Rep Miller
On Monday afternoon, we held a Partners in Quality Congressional Virtual Visit with the Office of U.S. Representative Mary Miller (R-15th District; Effingham). In the last 12 months, we have had congressional visits with each U.S. Senate office and 14 of the 18 U.S. House offices. Rep. Miller is one of two new Illinois federal legislators in Congress. Monday’s visit included Sandra Bryant, executive director of Wabash Christian Retirement in Carmi and Marijo and Eric Eisbrenner, CEO/Owners of Oak Senior Care in Oakland.
Sandra’s community offers Supportive Living, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Skilled Nursing, and Outpatient Rehabilitation. Wabash is a Christian Horizons community and one of five homes in the organization. Sandra has been the Wabash executive director for 18 years. “The last year has been the most challenging,” said Sandra. She provided experiences with the vaccination program, staffing and financial challenges due to COVID. She explained the unique challenge of staffing in a rural part of the state.
Marijo and Eric Eisbrenner, the owners that direct Oak Senior Care, came to the industry in 2019. The discussed the experience of coming to a new industry to them and in just over a year, the impact COVID has had. They presented challenges with testing and operations during a pandemic. Mario and Eric will also take part in our visit with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s (D-Chicago) office tomorrow morning.
If you would like to take part in our efforts to educate legislators on the needs of aging services providers and schedule a Partners in Quality visit, contact Jason Speaks.
New Staff Member at DoA
At yesterday’s Older Adult Services Advisory Committee (OASAC), the Illinois Department on Aging (DoA) introduced Lee Moriarity as the new Deputy State Long Term Care Ombudsman. She started February 1 and is a recreation therapist by trade. Sherry Barter Hamlin, CEO of The Voyage Senior Living, John Larson, CEO of Cantata Adult Life Services, and Jason Speaks of LeadingAge Illinois are members of OASAC.
Nursing and Rehabilitation:
Five Star Reports
The most recent Five Star Nursing Home reports have been sent to members. If you did not receive yours, contact Sloane Grubb.
Other:
N95 Fit Testing Services
N95 Fit Testing Kits are backordered from most of the medical distributors that Terry Romin, Group Purchasing Advisor for LeadingAge Illinois/Value First, has spoken with. Please continue to work with your contacts from your medical distributor for updates on when they are expecting to receive the kits for your community.
There are several N95 Fit Testing Services organizations that Terry has reached out to, that may be possible solutions for your community.
Resources:
N95 Mask Fit Testing Services Companies
CDC Strategies for Optimizing the Supply of N95 Respirators
As LeadingAge Illinois and Value First continue to serve you, please reach out to Terry for supply needs for your community. Also, visit the Value First Website or our resource page for up-to-date information for your community. Terry can be reached at 224.230.7365.
Personal Protective Equipment Update
The LeadingAge Illinois and Value First team continue to work to keep you updated on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and items needed for the reopening phases in your communities. We encourage you to continue to work with your trusted food, medical, and janitorial distributors for your supply needs. However, we are also aware our “normal” channels may still be working to catch up with demands and realize that allocations are still in place. The following vendors have all been vetted for your use. See this letter from LeadingAge Illinois/Value First.
Additional Information:
Face Masks, Including Surgical Masks, and Respirators for COVID-19:
A comprehensive new FDA page on FDA.gov with answers to frequently asked questions about face masks, surgical masks, and respirators.
Article on storing bulk PPE:
Jensen Hughes, LeadingAge’s life safety and emergency preparedness consultants have provided this advice on storing bulk PPE in a manner that avoids creating a hazardous area. The guidance offers specifications for existing spaces that are converted into storage areas.
See also, the LeadingAge and Pathway Health PPE Toolkit.
Support the LeadingAge Illinois PAC
The LeadingAge Illinois Political Action Committee (PAC) is a bipartisan, voluntary, not-for-profit organization representing professional men and women in the field of older adult care and services. Affiliated with LeadingAge Illinois, the PAC was created to support LeadingAge Illiinois’ friends in the Illinois Legislature and also to gain access to those legislators who may not be current on issues affecting our profession.
Click here to support the PAC.
Also, if you’re a member of both LeadingAge Illinois and LeadingAge National, stay connected with other LeadingAge National Members and share information and resources through the MyLeadingAge Member Community: COVID-19. This is a place to connect with your peers to share and discuss everyday practices related to the coronavirus virus. Take a moment now to log into your my.leadingage.org account and join the group to stay connected. LeadingAge also has a COVID-19 webpage with the latest updates, information and resources for members.
Education:
Analyzing the OCR HIPAA Settlements of 2020- Tips, Pitfalls, and What To Avoid
a Blue Orange Compliance Webinar
February 25
12 p.m.
Managing Therapy Needs
March 18
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. CST
Faculty: Neely Sullivan PT, CLT-LANA, CDP, Education Specialist, Select Rehabilitation
Sheltered and Secure: Strategies for IN-room Resident Engagement
March 25
10:30 – 11:30
Faculty: Neely Sullivan PT, CLT-LANA, CDP, Education Specialist, Select Rehabilitation
CMS TRAINING EVENT – Section N: Medications – Drug Regimen Review Web-Based Training Section N Web-Based Training is Available. Click here to access the training
Save the Date:
Virtual Assisted Living Bootcamp 1.0
April 20 & 21
Faculty:
Lynda Kovarik SPSA, Division Chief for IDPH Assisted Living
Polsinelli Attorneys:
Matt Murer
Meredith Duncan