Media contact: Ed Gilhuly, 305-807-6906 | egilhuly@leftcom.com

Statement from 1199SEIU’s Roxey Nelson on HB 1239 and SB 804
FLORIDA: UNSAFE FOR SENIORS

Advancing Legislation Is Nursing Home Industry’s Latest Attack On Care Standards

“It’s outrageous that legislators in Tallahassee are allowing the nursing home industry to make Florida unsafe for seniors with advancing bills such as HB 1239 and SB 804 that make more drastic and dangerous cuts to minimum care standards.

This is an industry that has a sordid and long-documented model of putting profit over care; that has perfected a shell game of shell companies to hide money and dodge liability; and has successfully influenced political leaders in the legislature’s majority to roll back even the most basic care requirements over the past 20 years.

HB 1239 and SB 804 will result in a clear and dramatic reduction in trained staffing and basic bedside care – dressing, feeding, rolling over in bed, changing soiled sheets and clothes – no matter what phony fuzzy math the industry will claim about staff flexibility, modernization and meeting care minimums. Our most vulnerable seniors, our parents, grandparents and other loved ones are going to suffer, and some will die…all because of the industry’s selfishness and greed, and lawmakers’ compliance.

Florida legislators need to finally stand up for the state’s seniors and their caregivers – rather than bow to an industry that makes billions off of our tax dollars at the expense of elderly Floridians and low-wage workers – by voting NO on HB 1239 and SB 804.”

Roxey Nelson is Vice President and Director of Politics & Strategic Campaigns for 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest union of healthcare workers in Florida.