The Employees of Iowa's Long-Term and Skilled Nursing Facilities

Madam Speaker,

Our elder Americans are among the highest risk for COVID-19. During this outbreak, our seniors need the continued support from their communities.

That is why I rise today to ask the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the dedicated employees of Iowa’s 444 long-term and skilled nursing facilities as they face new and unforeseen challenges in providing care for their patients and residents.

Social distancing is not an option for these health care workers. Every day, these essential workers show up at work, receive their screenings at the door, and suit up in their protective equipment – often homemade – so they can continue to serve and provide the same level of care for their residents – our parents and grandparents; and our family, friends, and beloved community leaders. They show up despite the lack of personal protective equipment and show great ingenuity as they find new ways to protect their patients and themselves. Daily, they are working to protect our most vulnerable Iowans.

Employees at skilled nursing facilities have very difficult jobs. They carry the responsibility of caring for our loved ones as they face the uncertain challenges of aging. They bathe, dress, feed, engage – and love – their residents to keep them happy and healthy. Administrators and their assistants balance tight budgets and shuffle schedules to accommodate severe staffing shortages. Chefs and cooks create menus with quality meals to accommodate many dietary restrictions and daily needs to ensure our seniors are leading healthy lives. All these difficult tasks are only compounded by the stress of added protective measures and coping with the anxieties that come as a result of the crisis we now find ourselves in.

I am grateful for the strength and resiliency that our workers in long-term and skilled nursing facilities have shown during this crisis. While we are not able to visit our loved ones in these facilities, we can rest assured they are continuing to receive quality attention and care during this time. So today, I’m asking my colleagues here in the House to join me in honoring the remarkable employees who are keeping our long-term and skilled nursing facilities in Iowa up and running in the face of unprecedented challenges as Iowan of the Week.