In a May 2 letter to President Biden, LeadingAge president and CEO Katie Smith Sloan expressed deep dismay over and concern about the administration’s mischaracterization of nursing homes and repeated incendiary descriptions of care delivered in them as the White House last month promoted the final staffing rule rollout.

“We know, as you do, that quality care and staffing are tightly connected,” Sloan wrote. “Now, as the final staffing rule implementation deadline looms, a lack of qualified workers and support needed for recruitment, training, and retention pose significant obstacles to providers’ ability to comply with the mandate. ”

Advocating for a change in the  White House’s approach, she continued: “This is no time to mislead the public and discourage potential employees from joining our ranks. …your administration’s inaccurate framing of all providers and our sector threatens to undermine efforts—including the $75 million recruitment campaign promised by CMS to encourage more nurses to work in nursing homes—to achieve the shared goal of bringing new staff to the field.”

“Rather than disparage us, partner with us,” Sloan urged, extending an offer, reiterated in a May 3 press release, to “visit our communities … witness, first-hand, the innovations they’ve developed to navigate their workforce challenges. Hear what needs to be done to solve them.”

“There’s much to be done,” she said. “Let’s work together to build a stronger and enticing pathway to aging services for nurses and nursing assistants.”