Suffolk GOP Stands With Nursing Home Families Dealing With Five Months Of Mistreatment
CONTACT: Robert Caroppoli (631) 921-2104
Chris McKenna - 315-706-6736
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On the somber five-month anniversary of the New York State Health Department’s fatal decision to put the lives of New York seniors in danger by forcing COVID-19 positive residents back into homes, Senator Phil Boyle and several Suffolk County Senate candidates joined with local families who lost loved ones to call for immediate policy changes to protect New York State seniors.
The misguided policy, which was publicly attributed to Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, created an extremely dangerous situation for residents and health care workers. The forced acceptance of positive residents back into these facilities most likely was a contributing factor in the deaths of at least 6,000 New York seniors - who are parents, grandparents, wives, husbands - and the families deserve to know who was truly responsible.
While the decision has been credited to Commissioner Zucker, the advocates and candidates were unified in their belief that Governor Andrew Cuomo must accept responsibility for the debacle and agree to a number of steps to ensure closure for the families who lost loved ones:
Accept responsibility for the implementation of this policy that has contributed to the loss of thousands of elderly without any consideration for their families
Immediately release the full number of nursing home deaths to ensure that all deaths that this policy contributed to are fully counted - currently, the state neglects to count those who were transported from facilities to hospitals in their records
Fully comply with Senate Republican Conference’s repeated calls for an independent investigation of the situation to ensure this never happens again
Put an immediate end to their attempts to intimidate senior nursing facilities and industry officials who want to speak up about the situation but who are afraid to speak up
Return legislative power back to the Senate and the Assembly to ensure that all who were voted into office in the state have the ability to protect New Yorkers from misguided policies like the March 25th directive
Jennifer Harrison, who has been active in this effort since losing her step-grandmother Theresa and Theresa’s sister Josephine, joined Senator Boyle and the assembled candidates to call for changes and accountability: “They were known as Long Island’s Home Front Sisters during WWII and now they are both out of my life due to Governor Cuomo’s policy. These were strong women who were there for our country when they were needed and they were failed by an administration that is still denying any responsibility. It is so obvious that the March 25 directive never should have been issued and that those who concocted this policy need to be held responsible for their disregard for all of our family members. All of our seniors deserve dignified treatment and our state must do better.”
Senator Boyle stated: “On behalf of the thousands of grieving New York families who lost loved ones to the Covid Pandemic after your March 25th directive, we have one, simple demand, “Governor, Give Us The Number!” How many New Yorkers contracted the Coronavirus in our state’s nursing homes and adult care facilities and subsequently died. Whether they died in the facility, at home, or in a hospital, Give Us The Number!”
"Even months after this tragic and misguided directive, families still are awaiting answers of the true number of actual and preventable COVID deaths in nursing homes, why their loved ones were put at risk, and what steps are being taken to ensure it won't happen again. We don't need excuses and cover-ups, but answers that only a truly independent investigation and real accountability can provide,” stated Alexis Weik, Republican and Conservative candidate for the 3rd Senate District.
“These families have unnecessarily suffered greatly and it is clear that their losses are due to the misguided decisions of the Cuomo administration. It is equally clear that their state legislators, including my opponent, are equally culpable since they willingly abdicated their power months ago and allowed this administration to implement this deadly policy. Every single Democrat must force Cuomo to cede their power back and make the changes that the Senate Republican Conference is calling for because our state government is supposed to work for them, And right now it is clearly not,” stated Ed Smyth, the 5th Senate District’s Republican, Conservative and Independence nominee.
“For four months I have been calling for an independent investigation into the nursing home tragedy that has cost the lives of thousands of New Yorkers,” said Anthony Palumbo. “The families who lost loved ones deserve answers. Senate Democrats have refused to use their subpoena power to get to the bottom of this crisis—leaving an independent investigation as the only recourse to get the information we need to prevent a future catastrophe if another wave of COVID-19 hits our state,” added Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, the Republican and Conservative nominee for the 1st Senate District.
In an effort to continue their advocacy, Voices For Seniors are planning a statewide rally for truth and accountability in September. New Yorkers can visit their website at voicesforseniors.com for more information on upcoming events.
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