AUSTIN, TX — Congressman Pete Olson, (R-Texas) and Seema Verma, the top administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, visited a Houston-area skilled nursing facility Monday to give their support to long term care staff struggling to recover in Texas.
Almost one-third of the nursing facilities in Texas were in the declared disaster counties as a result of Hurricane Harvey. The storm forced thousands of residents to be evacuated from more than 100 nursing and assisted living facilities along the Gulf Coast. Many more nursing facilities were forced to implement emergency preparedness plans and shelter in place.
“I want to thank Congressman Olson and Administrator Verma for taking the time to personally visit Park Manor of Southbelt and talk to the staff as they deal with the aftermath of Harvey,” said Kevin Warren, President and CEO of the Texas Health Care Association, which advocates for long term care providers across Texas. “I am glad they were able to hear first-hand the tales of fortitude and teamwork from some of the dedicated nursing home staff who helped us meet the colossal challenges of this unprecedented storm.”
Long term care facilities across the region are still working to return to normal. But thanks to the efforts of long term care staff across the region putting their residents’ health and safety in front of their own concerns, catastrophe was averted during the crisis.
THCA has set up a Heroes of Long Term Care Hurricane Relief Fund to assist the heroic front-line care staff who themselves were displaced by the storm. To contribute, visit www.txhca.org/harvey.
“We have a long way to go before everything is back to where it should be, but it is heartening to know that we have the support of our federal government as we move forward,” Warren said. “The coordination and early decisions to implement key waivers gave the providers in the affected areas the needed support early to focus their attention on the health and safety of the residents during these most difficult times.”