September 17, 2021 Washington, DC—Statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including nursing homes, on the $2.1 billion Centers for Disease Control & Prevention investment to improve infection prevention and control across the country’s public health and health care sectors:

“All Americans will benefit from this investment in a stronger public health system. Bolstering infection prevention and control capabilities will lessen the impact of a future tragedy like the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately impacted older adults and the people who care for them. We particularly appreciate the specific allocation of $500 million to staff, train and deploy strike teams to long-term care providers with COVID-19 outbreaks, which will help to address providers’ staffing shortages — a longstanding challenge that’s been exacerbated during the pandemic. Frontline staff are weary from battling COVID for 18 months; the promise of fresh teams is both heartening and greatly needed to ensure the well-being of older adults. Our members across the country look forward to working with their state leaders to ensure these funds directly address the staffing shortages they’re intended to address.

One important lesson from this crisis is that our health care system is interconnected. This investment in infection prevention and control activities is a welcome acknowledgement of that interdependence across the public health and health care sectors, and the support needed to ensure safety and well-being.”

We represent more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we use applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership, which now includes the providers of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, encompasses the continuum of services for people as they age, including those with disabilities. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.