Even with additional testing resources from the federal government, one nursing home operator said current costs combined with new surveillance requirements are simply “unsustainable.”
“One test kit [is] $33, and that’s if we can find the test kits. If we don’t, we are expected to work with outside laboratories at a cost of $100 a test,” said Julie Thorson, president and CEO of Friendship Haven Fort Dodge, IA.
“In addition to testing our employees twice a week, [if] we happen to have an employee [test] positive, we have to test our residents once a week. The cost is unsustainable. We need more help,” she added.
Thorson’s comments came during a LeadingAge press conference in mid-September. She joined several other providers in demanding that the next COVID-19 relief bill include “historic levels of support and resources,” specifically for aging services providers.
As of press time, pressure was building on Congress to pass coronavirus-relief legislation. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), speaker of the House, said she would not adjourn the House for the November elections without such a bill.
Friendship Haven has had to hire for entirely new positions, in its fight against COVID-19. In particular, the operator has focused its hiring on companions to help fight social isolation among residents, and screeners who check employees twice a day for the disease.
Thorson described workforce challenges as a “daily, constant burden” because of the pandemic. She added that workers’ mental and physical fatigue could impair their abilities to combat the virus, and that without additional funding, providers could succumb.
“We are losing good people due to COVID-19. We need additional funding,” Thorson said. “We will do our best — we always do — but we need additional funding to pay for this.”
From the October 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
