NEW LAW WILL MAKE FLORIDA UNSAFE FOR SENIORS

“It’s dangerous, sad and short-sighted that HB 1239, which drastically cuts staffing and care standards in Florida nursing homes, has been signed into law. This bill, written by the for-profit nursing home industry, puts our most vulnerable and elderly senior citizens at even great risk. Our union of dedicated caregivers and other true advocates of seniors such as AARP have been imploring lawmakers for months to stop this giveaway to the multi-billion-dollar industry that puts profits over people. But the Tallahassee GOP majority again has sided with big business and campaign donors rather than protecting the well-being of Florida seniors and their families.

Nursing home industry lobbyists and their compliant politicians use trick language to say this bill ‘modernizes’ nursing home staffing, but nothing could be further from the truth. HB 1239 will only make healthcare worker recruitment and retention much worse.

As a result of this law, more nursing home patients will suffer, and some will die. Our seniors, and all Floridians, deserve better.”

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.