The prevailing wisdom is that vaccination is critical to slowing the spread of COVID and minimizing its symptoms when someone contracts the virus. Especially in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, where the population is particularly prone to severe and even fatal results from contracting COVID, it would seem that the first priority would be to get all the staff vaccinated.
However, there is a widespread problem throughout the state of Florida, and at Manorcare in particular. Although Governor DeSantis has made vaccinations readily available, and prioritized distribution to long-term healthcare facilities for the elderly, there is still a significant problem throughout the state’s facilities.
Widespread problem
According to a recent report from News 4 online out of San Antonio, Florida comes in among the worst in terms of percentage of long-term elder care facility staff vaccinations. Throughout the state, these facilities have been relatively unsuccessful in getting their staff members to receive the vaccine.
The article sites the AARP in saying that only 41.8 percent of the state’s nursing home staffers are vaccinated. The video calls this the second lowest in the country.
This lack of vaccinations by staff members in elder care facilities is a serious problem.
Although it is admittedly difficult for a facility to force its staff to receive the vaccine, and the entire industry in Florida has been challenged with staffing problems during the pandemic, these numbers show a widespread failure throughout Florida’s assisted living and nursing home facilities.
Manorcare is the worst offender
A linked spreadsheet shows the AARP rates of vaccinations in Florida. In this list, Manorcare facilities comes in dead last with only 4.425 percent of its staffers vaccinated. This is just one in a long list of Manorcare’s health and safety problems over the years.
If you are considering sending a loved one to a long-term care facility, you are entering a facility yourself, or you have experienced serious healthcare problems or violations from Manorcare, you need legal help. An experienced elder care lawyer can help you obtain compensation from damages caused by an unsafe assisted living or nursing home facility. Your health, or the health of your beloved relatives, is too important to take lightly.
