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April 22, 2022 After completing an intensive five-week training program in November, Nadege Massillon found a good job at a nursing home in Norwood. The position she accepted promised steady hours, decent benefits, and a likely pay increase to more than $20 an hour once she passed her exam to become certified as a nurse aide, or CNA. Massillon, 40, of Dorchester, felt confident and well prepared to take the 90-minute exam after her training. But for almost six months

IT’S BEEN TWO LONG, arduous, and devastating years since Massachusetts, the country, and indeed the world, were thrown into a terrifying situation as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through our communities. For nursing homes, the impact was especially severe as we came to understand that elders with underlying medical conditions, which describes most of our residents, were the most vulnerable population to this insidious disease. And, because of the communal nature of facilities, coupled with the contagiousness of the disease, it

EDITORIAL Massachusetts must order all health care personnel to get the vaccine As the Delta variant surges, unvaccinated employees in the health care industry are putting patients at risk by unnecessarily exposing them to COVID-19. By The Editorial Board Updated August 20, 2021, 4:00 a.m. Maryland became the latest state Wednesday to require health care workers statewide — all personnel at nursing homes, hospitals, and other health care congregate facilities — to get the coronavirus vaccine. It joins California, Maine

Mass Senior Care Association applauds Governor Baker’s first-in-the nation COVID-19 vaccine mandate for nursing facility workers, which will further ensure the safety and wellbeing of the Commonwealth’s nursing facility residents. To date, Massachusetts nursing facilities have made significant strides in mitigating the spread of, and preventing deaths from, the COVID-19 virus and prioritizing nursing home residents and staff in the vaccine rollout has had a substantial impact. While Massachusetts nursing facilities currently have the 6th highest rate of staff COVID-19

Your opinion: CNAs are heroes: It’s time to pay them a living wage By Rose Marie Pardo Editor's note: National Nursing Assistants Week was June 17-24. As I reflect back on the last 14 months living in a nursing facility during the COVID-19 pandemic, I am reminded of the dedicated and kind caregivers I have had the good fortune of knowing and being in the care of. These caregivers include Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs), nurses, activities staff, rehab aides, social

MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION URGES CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN NURSING FACILITY CARE The Massachusetts Senior Care Association (MSCA) today thanked House and Senate lawmakers for their support in increasing Medicaid funding to more realistically account for the cost of resident care, while stressing that the acute workforce shortage necessitates the need for additional supplemental funding to provide quality care to residents. More than two-thirds of nursing home residents rely on MassHealth--the state's Medicaid program--to cover the cost of their care. Currently

By Robert Weisman Globe Staff Visitors were allowed to return to senior care sites last week, so Kate Cunningham of Canton hurried over to see her mother. It had been three and a half months since they last embraced. In that time, 88-year-old Sheila McCabe had been quarantined with coronavirus, then recovered, and now she’s vaccinated. “It’s really emotional,” said Cunningham, 58, who entered the Copley at Stoughton nursing home and immediately kissed her mom on the cheek. So recently

By RICK SOBEY | The Boston Herald March 11, 2021 Hugs between nursing home residents and their family members now have the green light, as the coronavirus vaccine rollout has helped dramatically lower virus rates inside these hard-hit facilities. The feds this week relaxed visitation guidelines for nursing homes amid the vaccine rollout that has prioritized getting shots into the arms of nursing home residents and staff. “… We acknowledge the toll that separation and isolation has taken,” reads the

Massachusetts nursing homes have made “significant strides” in dramatically lowering coronavirus infection and death rates amid the vaccine rollout that prioritized these hard-hit facilities, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association said. The coronavirus vax rollout launched at Bay State long-term care facilities on Dec. 28, and since then, more than 125,000 vax doses have been administered to nursing home residents and staff. Both virus cases and deaths tied to nursing homes have dropped since the rollout started. “Encouraging data released today

BOSTON (WHDH) - Nursing homes across the Bay State have made “significant strides” in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and preventing deaths from the virus since vaccines were made available to residents and staff, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association announced Wednesday. More than 125,000 vaccine doses have been administered to nursing home residents and staff in Massachusetts since the rollout, and since May there has been a 94 percent reduction in daily infections and an 87 percent reduction in daily

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Long-term care facilities were hit hard by COVID-19, accounting for 35 percent of all deaths nationwide during the pandemic. The 22News I-Team has been tracking cases specifically in long-term care facilities for months now and found out that cases have started to go down dramatically. More than one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the state so far. We are now starting to see a decline in active cases, positive test rates, and

BOSTON — Encouraging data released today by the Massachusetts Senior Care Association show nursing homes in Massachusetts have made significant strides in mitigating the spread of, and preventing deaths from, the COVID-19 virus. The data also show that prioritizing nursing home residents and staff for the vaccine rollout is working exceedingly well. To date, over 125,000+ vaccine doses have been administered to nursing home residents and staff in Massachusetts, and since May of 2020 there has been a 94% reduction

Nursing homes may be turning the corner on COVID Vaccinations, nearly completed, could accelerate the trend BRUCE MOHL Feb 4, 2021 SHARE 8 NURSING HOMES have accounted for the bulk of deaths from COVID-19 in Massachusetts since last April, but that may be starting to change. Long-term care facilities, which cater to older people with underlying health conditions, were once the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Massachusetts. The disease swept through the facilities and the death toll climbed rapidly

Nursing homes may be turning the corner on COVID Vaccinations, nearly completed, could accelerate the trend Feb 4, 2021 NURSING HOMES have accounted for the bulk of deaths from COVID-19 in Massachusetts since last April, but that may be starting to change. Long-term care facilities, which cater to older people with underlying health conditions, were once the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in Massachusetts. The disease swept through the facilities and the death toll climbed rapidly, with nursing home fatalities

"Today marks a critical and hopeful milestone in our fight against Covid-19 with the first wave of vaccines being distributed today in nursing facilities across the Commonwealth. Many nursing facilities are reporting more than 90% of residents have consented to receiving the vaccine and a growing number of staff are planning to be vaccinated. This is a testament to the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, as well as ongoing education efforts by many including bi-lingual materials Mass Senior Care

A campaign to vaccinate 115,000 residents and employees at Massachusetts long-term-care facilities began Monday, bringing hope to a sector ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 30 vaccination clinics were held at these facilities Monday, according to state officials, with more scheduled over the next several weeks. The clinics mark a transformational moment in the long-term-care industry’s fight against the coronavirus. COVID-19 has sickened more than 30,000 residents and workers and killed more than 7,000, accounting for more than 60

MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES "ARMING OURSELVES AGAINST COVID-19" CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE COVID-19 VACCINATION CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ON SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF COVID-19 VACCINES The Massachusetts Senior Care Association, representing more than 350 nursing facilities and long term care facilities across the Commonwealth launched a campaign this week to encourage long term care residents and staff to get vaccinated against COVID-19 virus as soon as possible. Called " Arming Ourselves Against COVID-19 " the campaign seeks to educate those who

Massachusetts Senior Care Association launches COVID-19 vaccine education program, 1st shots expected week of Dec. 28 By LISA KASHINSKY | lkashinsky@bostonherald.com PUBLISHED: December 18, 2020 at 8:49 p.m. A coronavirus vaccine education campaign is getting underway in senior care facilities across the state with nursing homes in line to receive their first shots shortly after Christmas. Baker administration officials said this week that vaccinations will begin in long-term care facilities during the week of Dec. 28. CVS and Walgreens pharmacies

Nursing homes take steps to prevent COVID-19 spread Cynthia McCormick Cape Cod Times As nursing home officials across the state anticipate phase one of the state vaccination campaign announced last week, they are hoping new infection control procedures prevent the massive loss of life that occurred in the pandemic surge last spring. Residents of long-term care facilities represent about 52% of total COVID-19 deaths on Cape Cod since the pandemic began. In the spring and summer, however, that number reached

STATEMENT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION REGARDING THE BAKER ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN FOR COVID-19 VACCINE PHASED ROLLOUT The Massachusetts Senior Care Association together with our residents, their families and caregivers are extremely grateful to state and federal public health officials for continuing to prioritize the protection of residents and staff in nursing homes, assisted living, and rest home residents, by ensuring they are in the first cohort of COVID-19 vaccine recipients. The Baker Administration's planned rollout is great news and

‘Time is of the essence here’: High-risk groups await state vaccine plan Massachusetts could see two vaccines arrive by mid- to late December By Robert Weisman and Deanna Pan Globe Staff,Updated December 1, 2020, 2:19 p.m. With the first COVID-19 vaccines on track to arrive in Massachusetts in less than two weeks, the groups most vulnerable to the deadly virus — from front-line health workers to residents of hard-hit communities — are awaiting the state’s plan for allocating the initial

REP. RICHARD NEAL TO MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS: WE NEED TO DO MORE TO SUPPORT HEROIC NURSING HOME WORKERS ANNUAL MEETING SPEAKERS FOCUS ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TOLL ON STAFF AND RECOVERY STRATEGIES Boston--At today's annual meeting of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association (MSCA) and its members, The Honorable Richard Neal, U.S. Congressman for the state's 1st District, spoke about the incredible efforts of nursing home staff during the pandemic, and the need for ongoing support to protect residents

Stipends offered for nursing home training by: Chris Lisinski, SHNS Posted: Nov 18, 2020 / 08:47 PM EST / Updated: Nov 18, 2020 / 08:47 PM EST BOSTON (SHNS) – The Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Hebrew SeniorLife will help train 300 nursing homes across the state in infection control as part of a national program, officials announced Wednesday. The two organizations will serve as a “hub” in the National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network, an initiative to help better

MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION AND HEBREW SENIORLIFE TO LEAD 300 NURSING HOMES IN NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE TO FIGHT COVID-19 INFECTION IN NURSING HOMES Massachusetts Senior Care Association and Hebrew SeniorLife are collaborating in a nationwide training program to help keep COVID-19 from spreading in area nursing homes and to prepare and equip staff so that they can better protect residents and themselves. This is an essential nationwide initiative in the fight against COVID-19. The program is part of the National Nursing

I started my career in long term care as a nursing home social worker on Cape Cod in 1991 and now operate a non-profit system that includes eight skilled nursing facilities across Massachusetts. COVID-19 changed the world we live in with lightning speed. Thousands of elderly and vulnerable people have lost their lives as the virus worked its way through long-term care facilities across the state, including my buildings. After months of fighting coronavirus around the clock, my colleagues and

Statement From Tara Gregorio, President of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, Regarding the Baker Administration's Additional Funding Package for Nursing Homes We are grateful to Governor Baker and his Administration for making emergency funds available to help long-term care facilities protect our residents and staff from the unprecedented dangers of COVID-19. The Massachusetts Senior Care Association, the COVID-19 Policy Alliance, led by MIT faculty, and Hebrew SeniorLife have formed a COVID-19 Long Term Care Command Center to help support nursing

By Simon Johnson, Kate Kellogg, and Retsef Levi Residents of nursing facilities in Massachusetts are in grave danger. As of April 15, 48 percent of reported COVID-19 deaths in the state were in long-term care facilities. From April 10 to April 15 alone, 283 deaths were attributed to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. Over the same period, the number of reported cases by residents and health care workers in these facilities increased by more than 95 percent, and the number

STATEMENT FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION REGARDING THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS FOR STAFFING NURSING HOMES AND FUNDING WAGES While we acknowledge and are grateful for Governor Baker's and Secretary Sudders’ continued support for nursing home residents, their families and caregivers, we believe the crisis situation warrants significant additional investments for our frontline staff. Together with the Command Center, we are making good progress on accessing testing and vital PPE, but we need to do more to help protect and support

SHNS Coronavirus Tracker (Tuesday PM Update) The Latest on COVID-19 SHNS Staff4/14/20 6:14 PM APRIL 14, 2020.....Total deaths in Massachusetts linked to the coronavirus pandemic approached 1,000 on Tuesday as Gov. Charlie Baker touted the opening of one field hospital and announced plans for two others. Although overall confirmed cases for two days straight have increased at a lower rate than they have over the last week, public health officials cautioned against interpreting trends from daily totals and Baker said

Nursing Home Association Warns Administration & Legislature: State Must Do More to Prevent Widespread Deaths His Excellency, Charles Baker Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts State House Office of the Governor, Room 280 Boston, MA 02133 The Honorable Karen Spilka Massachusetts Senate, President 24 Beacon Street, Room 356 Boston, MA 02133 The Honorable Robert DeLeo Massachusetts House of Representatives, Speaker 24 Beacon Street, Room 332 Boston, MA 02133 Dear Governor Baker, Senate President Spilka and Speaker DeLeo: I am

Nursing home leader warns of death and devastation Asks state for more testing, more PPE, and $130m more a month April 13, 2020 THE PRESIDENT of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association on Monday warned of death and devastation at nursing homes unless the state dramatically ramps up COVID-19 testing of residents and employees, prioritizes the delivery of personal protective equipment, and funnels an additional $130 million a month to the industry. In a letter to Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker

Statement From Tara Gregorio, President of Massachusetts Senior Care Association April 10, 2020 The continuing rise in the number of cases among the 38,000 frail elderly and disabled residents under our care is devastating to our residents, families and staff who are courageously battling the most horrific pandemic in our lifetimes. Together with the Commonwealth and hospital partners, we must redouble our efforts to support and protect our nursing home residents and staff in three very simple, actionable ways: 1)

Senior care facilities are “teetering on the edge of collapse” without enough protective gear, testing and funding to keep Massachusetts’ most vulnerable populations alive as coronavirus spreads through nursing homes at an alarming rate. “In a lot of ways, we are the front line of this battle. And that’s why the urgency of the personal protective equipment and the staffing and the resources is now,” said Massachusetts Senior Care Association President Tara Gregorio. “This was already a system in crisis

NURSING HOMES PUT OUT URGENT PLEA FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) DONATIONS FOR FRONTLINE STAFF WEBSITE CREATED FOR DONATIONS Today the Massachusetts Senior Care Association launched a website for donations of Personal Protection Equipment for nursing home staff fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle. MSCA is looking for donations of surgical masks, N-95 masks, gowns, gloves, face shields, thermometer covers, and alcohol-based sanitizing gels. All donations will directly go to nursing homes most in need. Facing severe shortages

In the past week, dozens of Massachusetts nursing home residents have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least 20 have died from the disease. Now, an industry group that represents hundreds of senior care facilities around the state says their members are facing a major a shortage of staffing, funds, and personal protective equipment like masks and gowns. "We have nursing facilities today that do not have adequate supplies of masks, gloves and gowns," said Tara Gregorio, president of the

Important Update from Massachusetts Senior Care Association President Tara Gregorio Regarding COVID-19 Testing of Nursing Facility Residents The Massachusetts Senior Care Association and our members are grateful to the Command Center for being the first state in the country to act by lowering the threshold for COVID-19 testing for long term care residents. To our knowledge, no other state has yet to expand testing criteria for long term care residents. This action is consistent with CDC findings released on March

By Edelyne Bontemps April 2, 2020 Coronavirus is affecting everyday life — even for those who have not been infected. We are sharing stories of its impact on local people. This story was told by Edelyne Bontemps, a full-time Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Elizabeth Seton Residence Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation in Wellesley, and has been transcribed and edited from a conversation with Kristi Palma. My name is Edelyne Bontemps. I’m a CNA at Elizabeth Seton in Wellesley. Right now

Update from Massachusetts Senior Care Association President Tara Gregorio Regarding Efforts to Combat COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Facilities The elderly, both those living in skilled nursing facilities or in the community, remain particularly vulnerable to contracting the COVID-19 virus and, those with underlying health conditions are especially at risk. It is widely predicted by public health authorities that even with all current efforts that are underway, the number of COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents and their frontline caregivers will

CHATHAM – The need for social isolation is one of the most difficult aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities, cutting off visits from families and friends, often their only social interactions, can be difficult. “It's just very limiting for us all,” said Liberty Commons resident John Shearer. “But it's a sacrifice that a few of us have to make. We're very vulnerable, and certainly don't want the virus to get in here

STATEMENT OF TARA GREGORIO, PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION, ON COVID-19 RECOVERY SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES IN THE COMMONWEALTH “Skilled nursing facilities care for some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth and our members are taking extraordinary steps to help ensure their health, safety and well- being during this COVID-19 outbreak. Due to the anticipated surge in the need for hospital and nursing facility care over the coming weeks, nursing facilities in partnership with the Commonwealth and

Mass Senior Care Association Releases Statement Supporting SALMON Health & Retirement’s Decision to Dedicate A Building to Caring for COVID-19 Patients “Skilled nursing facilities care for some of the most vulnerable residents of the Commonwealth and our members are taking extraordinary steps to help ensure their health, safety and well-being during this COVID-19 outbreak. Due to the anticipated surge in the need for hospital and nursing facility care over the coming weeks, the state has called on us to help

Massachusetts nursing homes caring for many of the people most vulnerable to the coronavirus made a public plea Tuesday for additional funding, staff and supplies to help protect residents and their caregivers. Tara Gregorio, president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association, which represents nearly 400 nursing homes, said their ability to meet the needs of both depends largely on the ability to secure personal protective equipment, including masks, scrubs and gloves. “We’re clearly in the bull’s-eye right now,” said Richard

Statement from Mass Senior Care Association Regarding Mobilization of Nursing Homes to Meet Resident and Staff Needs During Covid-19 Crisis Massachusetts Senior Care Association is working closely with the Baker Administration, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and other state and federal agencies to support the state's nursing homes in mitigating the spread of the COVID-19 virus that poses a lifethreatening danger to our elderly residents. The Association is assisting nursing facilities across the Commonwealth to mobilize all resources necessary

MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON UPDATED COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS “As the Commonwealth moves aggressively to a COVID-19 mitigation strategy, the state’s nursing facilities are working diligently to implement every available measure in order to protect the state’s 100,000 residents and staff who are especially at risk of contracting this illness. Following Tuesday’s declaration of a State Emergency by Gov. Charlie Baker, the Massachusetts Senior Care Association (MSCA) is continuing to work with the Baker Administration to implement statewide protocols aimed

MASSACHUSETTS SENIOR CARE ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON COVID-19 Massachusetts Senior Care Association members are taking necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our residents and staff, including use of personal protective equipment, posting signage at entrances and throughout our facilities on best practices, providing alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and asking those with respiratory illnesses and those who have traveled out of the country to refrain from in-person visits. As always, the safety and health of residents and staff in the Commonwealth's nursing

My mother Helen lived on her own at home until she was 89 years old and then lived in elderly housing until she was 97, at which point she came to live with me and my husband in our Lowell home. After she suffered a mild stroke while living with us and left us for rehabilitative care, we knew she needed more care than we could provide. One year ago, she moved into the Palm Center nursing facility in Chelmsford

Cape Cod's population is aging, at the same time the region has fewer and fewer working professionals to take care of the elderly. That shortage has been a factor in a number of nursing homes closing on the Cape and South Coast earlier this year. A large part of the nursing home workforce is made up of Certified Nursing Assistants – also known as CNAs. Often paid minimum wage, these workers are the first line of caretakers for the elderly

BOSTON – Building on decades-long tradition of supporting employees working to achieve their goals of a career in long term care, the Massachusetts Senior Care Foundation announced its 2019 Foundation Scholars. This year’s class of 35 recipients will use their scholarships to help pay for tuition, books, and other out-of-pocket expenses as they work towards advancing their personal and professional goals in the long term care profession. “It’s an honor to announce this year’s scholarship recipients. The 2019 Foundation Scholars

Nine Massachusetts Long Term Care Facilities Receive National Quality Award Waltham, MA – Nine member nursing facilities of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association have been been awarded the American Health Care Association’s 2019 Silver Achievement in Quality Awards in recognition of the exemplary resident care provided at each of these facilities. “We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of these member nursing facilities,” said Tara Gregorio, President of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association. “A Silver Achievement in Quality Award demonstrates

By Robert Weisman Globe Staff June 23, 2019 DARTMOUTH — When five Skyline nursing homes shut their doors last month, Frank Romano came to the rescue. He accepted more than three dozen old and frail residents at a pair of nursing homes he owns here and in neighboring New Bedford. Now he’s scrambling to find nurses to care for them, along with more kitchen, laundry, and maintenance workers. As he looks for help, he’s struggling to operate the properties profitably