nursing homes
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PublishedMarch 10, 2021
Nursing home residents can have hugs again, federal health officials say
While hugs are OK again for residents who have completed their vaccination, precautions such as wearing masks and using hand sanitizer remain as a counterbalance to risk. Maine is now considering the new federal guidance.
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PublishedJanuary 29, 2021
As Walgreens lags in vaccinations, Maine shifts doses to independent pharmacies
For the third week in a row, the Maine CDC gave independent pharmacies thousands of doses while Walgreens and CVS, national chains with a federal contract, weren't allocated any.
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PublishedJanuary 17, 2021
Nursing home staff shortages escalate to crisis levels
As the number of COVID-19 infections explodes in Maine, a third of the state's 93 elder-care facilities are reporting unfilled positions.
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PublishedDecember 29, 2020
Maine Voices: Getting vaccinated won’t make you severely ill, or kill you. COVID could
I get why some of my fellow health care workers are unsure about being immunized. But the misunderstandings stem from side effects that soon go away.
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PublishedDecember 1, 2020
Maine Voices: What it takes to fight COVID in nursing homes
The virus should not be considered a terminal illness – there are practical treatment options that can give senior patients a chance at surviving.
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PublishedSeptember 23, 2020
Our View: President Trump fails to acknowledge suffering caused by COVID
As the U.S. surpasses 200,000 deaths from the virus, the president says that it ‘affects virtually nobody.’
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PublishedJune 24, 2020
Commentary: How safe are Maine’s nursing homes? Safer than you might think
With the implementation of best practices, visiting a Maine senior living facility should now be safer than visiting the local grocery store.
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PublishedJune 15, 2020
Sen. Collins: Maine seniors in nursing homes need better protection from COVID
I've pursued steps such as universal testing, better access to PPE for front-line workers and policies enabling telehealth.
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PublishedMay 5, 2020
Commentary: In COVID crisis, long-term care employees have been Maine’s everyday heroes
They're on the front lines, providing life-sustaining care, and a national study has found many are now their household's only breadwinner.
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PublishedApril 23, 2020
11,000 deaths: Ravaged U.S. nursing homes plead for more testing
An industry group says only about a third of the 15,000 nursing homes in the U.S. have ready access to tests that can help isolate the sick and stop the spread.
