Petition for passage of the Safe Staffing for Quality Care bill (A2954-S1032)
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Gustavo Rivera, Speaker Carl E. Heastie, Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples, Chair Assembly Health Committee Richard N. Gottfried, Mark Kissinger, NYSDOH
The Elder Justice Committee of Metro Justice asks you to
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION
FOR SAFE STAFFING IN NURSING HOMES and HOSPITALS
Dear Friend,
The Elder Justice Committee of Metro Justice is appealing to you to sign this Safe Staffing Petition to urge key NYS legislators and Governor Cuomo to pass the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Bill (A2954-S1032). The Bill would implement a minimum hospital direct care nurse-to-patient staffing ratios and set minimum direct care staffing requirements in nursing homes.
The Federal Nursing Home Reform Law of 1987 mandates that nursing homes are required to have “sufficient staffing” to ensure that all residents receive the care and services they need to attain and maintain their highest practicable physical, emotional and social wellbeing, but does not define “sufficient”!
The New York Safe Staffing for Quality Care Law would implement a minimum mandatory staffing ratio resulting in each nursing home resident receiving a minimum of 4.1 hours of direct care services from RNs, LPNs and CNAs per resident each day. Thirty four states have implemented either mandatory minimum hours per resident per day or nurse-to-resident ratios in nursing homes, but New York has neither!
Research and countless anecdotal stories document understaffing, especially at night and on weekends. This understaffing results in poor care and unattended residents who develop bed sores and have more frequent falls.
Residents are not receiving the care they deserve. We urge you to sign this petition supporting legislation ensuring safe staffing levels to improve the quality of care and safety in nursing homes.
Sincerely,
The Elder Justice Committee of Metro Justice of Rochester
Sponsored by
To:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Gustavo Rivera, Speaker Carl E. Heastie, Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples, Chair Assembly Health Committee Richard N. Gottfried, Mark Kissinger, NYSDOH
From:
[Your Name]
I am writing to you urge you to pass the Safe Staffing for Quality Care Act bill (A2954-S1032). This issue is important for many reasons, including:
Safe staffing levels are necessary to ensure the safety and quality care to vulnerable nursing home residents.
Nursing homes have been required to provide “sufficient” staffing for over 25 years. In the absence of any limits on nursing home profits, the Act is needed to ensure that the billions of taxpayer dollars spent on care in NYS are used wisely and appropriately for the benefit of vulnerable elders.
Thirty four states mandate minimum direct care nursing staffing hours to protect vulnerable nursing home residents. New York does not! New York’s average nursing home care staffing of 3.5 hours is in the bottom half of all states, and well below California’s 4.1 hours.
Passage of the Safe Staffing bill in this legislative session is essential. Please exercise your State leadership role in making this happen to protect seniors!