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 of PPE, many facilities are depleting within a week the monthly allocations they are receiving from their medical supply vendors. In order to support and ensure the safety of our dedicated workforce, PPE is desperately needed so that staff can safely and appropriately care for residents.
"Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, nursing facilities have worked tirelessly to protect their nursing home residents and work diligently to mitigate the spread of this devastating virus. Nursing homes continue to pursue all viable options in order to secure additional masks, gowns, eye shields and gloves including appealing to the state’s Command Centers and making purchases via international suppliers," said Tara Gregorio, President of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association. "The Association has secured 20,000 surgical masks that we will begin distributing to front line staff, upon arrival later this week and we anticipate having another 100,000 in two weeks, but more is needed today. We are appealing to the community and vendors with the simple message that we need to protect our staff with PPE in order to protect our vulnerable residents."
The full website for PPE donations is: https://www.maseniorcare.org/ppe-donations-massachusetts-nursing-homes