Skilled Nursing Facilities and COVID-19 Documentary

Jamie Worthy-Smith, sister of a COVID-19 victim, speaks about her experience in the documentary.

Please give us 6 minutes of your time to view a trailer for a forthcoming mini-documentary about the COVID-19 crisis in long-term care facilities. The COVID-19 crisis has devastated many Long-Term Care (LTC) facilities across the country, regardless of quality and safety records. Prior to the pandemic, the majority of LTC providers, nonprofit providers in particular, faced a daily challenge to secure the staff and resources necessary to deliver quality care that is often part of their mission. Our society has continued to neglect appropriate funding for frail seniors, and now all our LTC facilities are at risk. We as a nation are responsible for the failure to prepare LTC facilities for the onslaught of COVID-19. Even worse, we did not respond with alacrity when it was clear that all LTC facilities faced incredible risk. It is time to look at long-term solutions to what COVID-19 has exposed: our society has turned its back on our frailest citizens and refused to acknowledge that our LTC facilities overall are weakened by neglect. We're intently focused on this issue and invite you to join us as an ally, to create a better system for our frail seniors. The full story is coming this fall. In the meantime, watch the trailer here. 

We look forward to hearing your responses – please email comments to Jewish Healthcare Foundation President and CEO Karen Feinstein at feinstein@JHF.org.