Seniors & Healthcare: Fighting for Dignity in Care

Seniors & Healthcare: Fighting for Dignity in Care

What I Saw With My Own Mother

I watched my mother go through the system. What I saw was deplorable. These were facilities that somehow earned high inspection grades, yet the reality inside was anything but acceptable. They were understaffed, overworked, and underpaid. The people paying the price were our parents and grandparents.

I’ll never forget being at her assisted living facility when the director walked by and said, 'Oh, I didn’t realize she had a wheelchair.' My mother heard her. We were paying out of pocket, and that was the level of care she received.

When she needed more care, we moved her to a nursing home with a great reputation. It was

worse. The food was awful. The care was worse.

Profit Can Never Come Before Patient Care

Many facilities are operated for profit, and I have no problem with that. But profit can never come before patient care. If you’re paying poverty wages to people doing one of the hardest jobs in the world, you are setting the system up for neglect, burnout, and poor outcomes.

My Plan

Better Staffing Standards

No senior should be waiting hours for assistance because one CNA is responsible for an

unreasonable number of residents.

Better Pay for Caregivers

Caregivers do some of the hardest and most important work in society. We cannot expect quality care while paying poverty wages.

Onsite Urgent Care

I want doctors making regular rounds and onsite urgent care available in assisted living and nursing facilities whenever possible.

Mental Health Support

Mental health support must become a standard part of senior care. Protect 

Seniors’ Savings and Assets

I believe seniors should be allowed to keep a reasonable amount of savings and assets based on their income, net worth, and personal circumstances.

Seniors Built Rhode Island

A society is judged by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.

Seniors built Rhode Island. They paid the taxes. They raised the families. They built the

businesses. They served in our military.

On my watch, seniors will not be left behind.