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

“President Biden should be commended for elevating the need for improved nursing home care and better protections for seniors and their caregivers in his State of the Union address. Thousands of our 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East members who serve in nursing facilities across Florida have been calling for similar reforms for years.

“Short staffing and private equity owners who put profits over people are two of the most critical problems in long-term care that we’ve long documented, and the White House just highlighted to the nation. It gives hope to all of us who truly care for our most elderly and vulnerable Floridians.

“Sadly ironic, however, as President Biden and frontline caregivers call for improved standards, Florida politicians in collaboration with industry lobbyists in Tallahassee are on the verge of passing legislation that would dramatically cut staffing and care requirements. They’re moving us backward in Florida when the rest of the nation will be moving forward. If you had a parent, grandparent or other loved one in a nursing home, would you want them to receive even less care tomorrow than today? Florida shouldn’t be made unsafe for seniors.

“As dedicated caregivers who consider themselves the guardians of high quality care, we hope Florida lawmakers will listen to the honest advocates of seniors in our state and join the president’s efforts to improve nursing home care.”

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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 representing caregivers in about 80 nursing homes and 30 hospitals across the state.