How the Pandemic Has Pointed Out Flaws in Our Elder Care System
By all accounts, a Seattle area nursing home was ground zero for the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Limited knowledge about how to treat the disease, coupled with the facility’s vulnerable population, led to a tragic outbreak. Dozens of residents died within weeks and a short time later the same situation was taking place at nursing homes across the country. Long-term care experts say it’s unfortunate it took a pandemic to point out the flaws in our elder care system. A Time magazine article found that the U.S. health care system basically left its nursing-home residents as sitting ducks for a viral pandemic like COVID-19.
Between the close living quarters, compromised health of its residents, and often overworked and underpaid staff, infections spread rapidly and readily. The article points out that long-term-care facility residents account for almost one in four Covid deaths in this country, but that wasn’t the case in most other developed countries. That’s because countries like Denmark spend far more money on elder care. It’s evident the U.S. needs to step up and do the same. We must take care of our senior population – medically and financially. They earned it through years of hard work.
The Seniors Trust is committed to protecting the lives of America’s seniors through financial security. We are working diligently to pass the Social Security Expansion Act. This landmark piece of legislation will increase monthly Social Security benefits as well as ensure the long-term solvency of this critical program.
