List of nursing homes and photos at the bottom

On April 14, Consulate workers made history after holding strikes at 19 Consulate Health Care facilities, represented by 1199SEIU Florida to make their voices heard. The strikes we the first and the largest held in the Southeastern United States in nearly two decades.

Caregivers have been advocating for better conditions for residents and fellow employees since last year, but Consulate executives have not addressed their concerns, sending a clear message that they are putting profits over care. Members have pointed out that low wages can have serious consequences for nursing homes residents, because high rates of worker turnover can interrupt continuity of care and compromise quality of care, which can put residents at risk. More than 1,000 workers took to the strike line on April 14 to voice their concerns and displeasure with management, and they are ready to strike again, if needed.

As a result, the union has launched a paid media campaign to shed light on Consulate’s dismal record in Florida and the low wages paid to healthcare workers who care for the elderly and those living with a disability. Ironically, Consulate posted banners offering to pay $18 an hour to temporary caregivers during the strike.

“If they have the money to pay temps more than we get paid, they have the money to meet our demands,” said Kim White, a certified nursing assistant at Lake Mary Health and Rehabilitation Center. “We have all the experience and the knowledge that new recruits do not have. It is unfortunate that Consulate does not care or value the loyal employees that take care of their residents every day.”

It is clear that Consulate executives are cutting vital corners to resident care. Sixty-five percent of Consulate’s nursing homes are rated “below average” or “much below average” by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, representing some of the lowest performance scores in the nation. More than one-third of Consulate homes were fined for neglecting to safely care for residents over the past three years. Read more in this report about Consulate.

Consulate is the sixth-largest long-term care provider in the nation and the largest in Florida. It is largely funded by tax dollars via Medicaid and Medicare, which is most often the case in the nursing home industry. While generating significant funds from taxpayer dollars, the nursing home industry has enjoyed five straight years of market growth with revenues exceeding $350 billion annually.

“Consulate is double-dipping from taxpayers’ pockets, primarily through Medicaid and Medicare, to get rich. They are cutting hours and staffing to increase their profits, forcing employees to apply for public assistance because they don’t pay enough,” says Clara Smith, Orlando area director for 1199SEIU Florida. “Consulate is not at the heart of caring as they claim to be, and they are prioritizing their profits, while compromising the quality of care provided to our loved ones. If providing quality care really mattered to Consulate, quality jobs for their caregivers should be a priority.”

South Florida

Miami: Franco Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Hollywood: Hillcrest Health Care and Rehabilitation Center

West Palm Beach: Consulate Healthcare of West Palm Beach & Renaissance Health and Rehabilitation

Central Florida

Altamonte Springs: Consulate Health Care at West Altamonte

Kissimmee: Consulate Health Care of Kissimmee

St. Cloud: Plantation Bay Rehabilitation Center

Orlando: Rio Pinar Health Care, Rosewood Health and Rehabilitation Center, The Parks Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

Lake Mary: Health and Rehabilitation Center - 710 North Sun Drive, Lake Mary, FL 32746

Southwest Florida

Cape Coral: Coral Trace Health Care

North Fort Myers: Consulate Health Care of North Fort Myers

Sarasota & Tampa Bay

Brooksville: Spring Hill Health and Rehabilitation Center

Venice: Bay Breeze Health and Rehabilitation Center

Space Coast

South Daytona: Oaktree Healthcare

Titusville: Vista Manor

Palm Coast: Grand Oaks Health and Rehabilitation Center

Flagler

Palm Bay: The Palms Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center