November 23, 2020 Washington, DC — Aging services leaders came together for a pre-Thanksgiving plea to Americans and their leaders to help head off the catastrophic threat that the coronavirus’s third wave poses to millions of older adults.

An open letter to the American people was signed by state leaders of LeadingAge, which represents more than 5,000 aging-focused organizations. “The worst pandemic in a century has now reached its darkest hour,” the letter says. “What we all do now will determine if we protect or endanger the lives of older Americans.”

“As COVID-19 surges, would you want your grandmother or grandfather to be exposed to the virus?”

The pandemic has killed more than 170,000 people 65 and older, and the death toll is rapidly approaching 100,000 in long-term care settings. The letter includes a reminder about the CDC’s guidance on masks, social distancing and handwashing.

“For nine months, we’ve been shouting about the urgent need to protect the lives of older adults, said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO LeadingAge at a national telepresser today. “It is shocking that as people are dying in droves, our leaders fail to act. How many of the most vulnerable Americans must die before we see meaningful relief?”

Sloan called on Congress to deliver a “new federal lifeline” aging adults and their care providers during its post-election session. In a LeadingAge survey released last week, nearly half of providers said they probably could not support the expenses of new COVID-19 cases in their organization without additional financial support.

A link to Sloan’s remarks can be found here, and the telepresser video can be found here.

Remarks by State Aging Services Leaders

Nonprofit aging services leaders joined the press conference to discuss the challenges in their states, and call on Congress to take the steps needed to protect millions of older adults from the worst pandemic in a century. Remarks were offered by:

• Deke Cateau, Chief Executive Officer, A.G. Rhodes, Atlanta, GA, a nursing home provider offering long-term care, short-term recovery, and therapy and rehabilitation.

“This is a plea. Nursing homes are at our financial brink, our operational brink, and our emotional brink. I want communities to understand that we are doing everything we can to make this a joyous holiday season.”

“We’ve become family to our residents, and we are asking our staff to become the surrogate family to our residents. I cannot say enough about what they’ve been doing, since they are also at risk.”

• Julie Thorson, President & CEO, Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge, Iowa, a life plan community offering independent and assisted living, as well as skilled nursing and memory care.

“We’ve been testing employees twice a week and our nursing home residents three times a week because it is the right thing to do, but we don’t know if the supply of tests we have will be able to sustain that.

“What’s so frustrating is that community spread is not only still happening but it’s worse here than it ever has been. Long term care residents and employees are not just tired – we’re exhausted. We are depleted. And yet we keep showing up every day.

We need to come together this week by staying apart. For all of us to come together again, community spread must slow. ”

• John Sauer, President & CEO, LeadingAge Wisconsin, one of 38 state associations of nonprofit aging services providers

“It’s a form of ageism to ignore how the virus attacks and kills older adults. We’re at war, and the enemy is the virus. What if it was your loved one or your family member who succumbed to COVD? It’s about you and me and our loved ones and our community.”

One of our members testified last week that they’ve spent more than $200,000 over budget this year for masks, gloves and gowns–and that they’ve had to spend more than $700,000 to find temporary staffing, often from agencies charging 2-3 the normal rate. How is this sustainable? Unless there’s more relief, I’m concerned we’ll see more facilities fail.”

“Aging services are using innovation, dedication and grit to keep people safe during the pandemic. But we cannot do it alone,” said Sloan. “Everyone of every age and in every part of our society has a role to play in getting older adults and care workers through these next months.”

Sloan also co-authored a recent commentary in The Hill underscoring how worn-out care workers need a raise if they are going to juggle their impossible tasks.

We represent more than 5,000 aging-focused organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we address critical issues by blending applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building. We bring together the most inventive minds in our field to support older adults as they age wherever they call home. We make America a better place to grow old. For more information: www.leadingage.org.