May 5, 2020 Washington DC – From Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including nursing homes, assisted living, and home health care:

“Reports of plans to wind down the White House Coronavirus Task Force, at a time when states across the country begin to loosen restrictions aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, are alarming. We need more leadership, not less, to protect older Americans whose lives are on the line.

This sends a terrible signal. Is the White House losing resolve and focus on fighting the most dangerous pandemic in a century as it threatens an entire generation of Americans?

What we need and have needed are strong and focused directives from the top, as well as a coordinated effort, for the delivery of desperately needed personal protective equipment (PPE) and rapid-results testing to nursing homes, assisted living, and other aging services providers.

Nursing homes, assisted living and other aging services providers have been on the front line of COVID-19 for months—without the tools they need to face this vicious virus and to protect our most vulnerable Americans. Right now, it appears that our leaders are willing to leave older Americans and those who support them on the battlefield to fend for themselves.

The only thing that matters now is real leadership and comprehensive action. We cannot leave the battle in the middle of the fight.

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