Bill Text: NY J00554 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing March 25, 2021, as We Care Remembrance Day

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 11-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-24 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J00554 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J00554-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 554

BY: Senator SERINO

        RECOGNIZING   March   25,   2021,   as  "We  Care"
        Remembrance Day

  WHEREAS, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo declared a state of  emergency  on
March  7, 2020, in response to the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019,
known  as  COVID-19,  a  deadly  virus  that  targets  the  elderly  and
immunocompromised,  and  took the lives of more than 15,000 residents of
nursing homes and other adult care facilities; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize March
25, 2021, as "We Care" Remembrance Day, in conjunction with the one-year
anniversary of state guidance that directed COVID-positive patients into
nursing homes and other adult care facilities; and

  WHEREAS, While much was unknown about the  COVID-19  virus,  it  was
known that the elderly and those in congregate residential settings were
particularly  vulnerable,  and  the  virus posed the threat of spreading
through nursing homes and adult care facilities like "fire  through  dry
grass;" and

  WHEREAS,  On March 13, 2020, visits to nursing homes were limited to
only those who were medically necessary in an effort to limit the spread
of the virus within these facilities, but such  restrictions  left  many
residents  socially  isolated and cut off from loved ones, who are often
their strongest advocates; and

  WHEREAS, During a time that was riddled with  fear  and  uncertainty
due  to  the  unprecedented  public  health  crisis,  residents of these
facilities were often unable to receive comfort from  their  loved  ones
in-person, and tragically, in many cases, were unable to be with them at
the time of their passing; and

  WHEREAS,  The New York State Department of Health issued guidance on
March  25,  2020,  requiring  nursing  homes  to   re-admit   or   admit
COVID-positive  patients  and  further  prohibited  such facilities from
requiring hospitalized residents to be  tested  for  COVID-19  prior  to
admission or re-admission; and

  WHEREAS,  Records  indicate more than 9,000 patients recovering from
COVID-19 were discharged from hospitals into  nursing  homes  under  the
March  25th  guidance,  prior to it being partially rescinded on May 10,
2020; and

  WHEREAS,  New  York's  nursing   home   facilities   are   home   to
approximately   100,000   nursing   home  residents  in  613  facilities
statewide, each with unique stories and loved ones,  and  many  of  whom
were,  and  even  still  are,  active  participants  in  building  their
communities; and

  WHEREAS, These individuals took residence in nursing homes and other
adult care facilities so they can continue to live their lives, with the
assistance and supports they need to do  so,  in  a  fulfilling  manner,
while they age with dignity; and


  WHEREAS,  The  loss  of any life is tragic, and even more so if such
loss was preventable, and it is further tragic if such lives are lost in
vain; and

  WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of state officials to ensure  that
the  state's  most vulnerable residents are protected, and that no state
action jeopardizes their health or well-being, and it is incumbent  upon
such  officials  to  learn from past errors and to constantly improve to
promote the safety of all New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, The New York State Department of Health,  contrary  to  the
reporting  standards  of  most  other  states,  excluded  the  deaths of
residents that occurred in hospitals from reports of  nursing  home  and
adult  care  facility  fatalities,  and went to great lengths to prevent
disclosing a full accounting of such fatalities; and

  WHEREAS, New York State owes it to the residents  of  nursing  homes
and  adult  care  facilities  who  lost  their lives during the COVID-19
pandemic, as well as those who still live in these facilities or will in
the future, who have contributed so much throughout their lives to their
communities,  to  enact  fact-driven  policies  based  on  a  full   and
transparent  accounting of what took place in these facilities to ensure
their well-being in the future; and

  WHEREAS, Their deaths may not have been counted by  the  state,  but
their  lives  counted  immensely to their loved ones, and their legacies
should be honored; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
recognize March 25, 2021, as "We Care" Remembrance Day.