Mass Senior Care provides an update on testing of persons with suspect COVID-19, utilizing non-direct care staff to support needs, making decisions on essential staff entering your building, resident laundry guidance with COVID-19 and when families want to do residents’ laundry and important webinars/conference calls this week.

Healthcare facilities, including workers of nursing homes, rest homes and assisted living residences, have been designated as ‘COVID-19 Essential Services’ and are exempt from Governor Baker’s emergency order issued today to require all businesses to close their close their workplace by March 24th at noon.

Mass Senior Care is providing a brief update on the following 3 issues: (1) Approved list of Exempt Emergency child care programs which prioritize children of health care workers; (2) federal Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster loans for small businesses and (3) Applicability of the New Paid Leave Provisions in the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Memorandum To: Mass Senior Care Members From: Tara Gregorio, President Re: Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs Date: March 20, 2020 The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has established a process to approve Exempt Emergency Childcare Programs to serve vulnerable children and the children of families who are required to work to maintain the health, safety and welfare of all commonwealth citizens. This approach prioritizes public health and safety while maintaining critical service for vulnerable children and the children

To: MSCA Members From: Tara Gregorio, President RE: Attorney General Healey Issues Emergency Regulation Prohibiting Price Gouging of Critical Goods and Services During COVID-19 Emergency Date: March 20, 2020 Over the past week, Mass Senior Care has received reports from members of alleged price gouging activities, which we have immediately reported to the Attorney General’s Office and other government agencies. Today, Attorney General Maura Healey promulgated an emergency regulation that addresses price gouging of necessary goods and services during the

Today, the DPH released guidance on “HCP with Potential Exposure to Patients with COVID-19”. The Department’s guidance is issued in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Interim U.S. Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Over the past week, it has been incredibly uplifting to witness the extraordinary efforts our long term care facility staff have undertaken to care for residents during the COVID-19 outbreak. With CMS and CDC guidance changing at a rapid pace, all levels of staff have demonstrated their commitment to keeping our residents safe, healthy and emotionally and socially connected to their loved ones and their communities during this uncertain time.

CDC issued today new guidance on the use of masks, gowns and face shields including suggestions on what to do if in crises shortages and when your supplies are exhausted.

In an effort to maintain the availability of first responders and health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Baker today issued an Emergency Order closing all Massachusetts early education and child care centers and the state will instead open exempt emergency child care programs with priority access for children of health care workers.