Cosponsor H.R. 3733: Save Our Loved Ones in Long Term Care

I am writing to encourage you to cosponsor The Essential Caregivers Act (H.R. 3733), a bipartisan bill that would designate an essential support person for every resident living in long term care. Under OBRA ’87 residents in nursing homes and other federally funded facilities are guaranteed the right to visitation by anyone of their choosing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The COVID 19 lockdown removed visitation, which in the beginning was critical for the good of public safety, but over a year later has yet to be fully restored. As a result, thousands of our beloved family members are still dying of social isolation, with “failure to thrive” appearing on their death certificates, not COVID 19. We are not visitors. We are their connection to quality of life and their existence outside of institutional living. H.R. 3733 not only restores their access to companionship, daily living assistance and social support, it restores their voice. In this bill, essential caregivers will be tested and equipped as staff, therefore we will pose no additional threat to public safety. Win win. Please be a cosponsor. Restore resident rights.