The popular MI Choice program, which keeps low-income seniors and disabled residents in their homes, now has 4,000 open positions as state agencies struggle to hire direct-care staffers, even after offering higher pay.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first term was defined by COVID. A Bridge analysis finds the facts are clear: Her orders spared lives, but did so at a cost to the economy and K-12 learning.
New documents reveal tense internal debate over an explosive audit review that identified new COVID-19 deaths at Michigan nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that had not been previously disclosed.
Michigan’s auditor general says it’s ‘unfair’ to say his report found Whitmer’s administration gave inaccurate tallies of deaths from COVID. Republicans demand an investigation.
The report from the Michigan Auditor General places the death toll in long-term care higher than the state’s official count, but notes that some of those may be at facilities not required to report.
On top of continued isolation at many of Michigan’s nursing homes amid COVID, nearly 9,000 fewer workers now care for nursing home residents — raising concern about the well-being of those who live there.
Long-term care facilities had relaxed visitation as the summer opened and COVID cases fell. Some families say the rules are tightening again; a few said they never changed in the first place.
The Biden administration wants to withhold funds for homes that don’t require staff vaccines. But Michigan has one of the nation’s lowest staff vaccination rates, and some fear a mandate will lead more workers to quit, making staff shortages worse.
Democrats, Republicans accuse the other of playing politics after President Joe Biden’s administration declines to investigate Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s rules.
The review, revealed Wednesday, follows months of scrutiny by GOP legislators, who have questioned whether seniors were put in harm’s way under an early pandemic policy from Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that created regional “hubs” for infected patients.
The state stands by its total of nursing home deaths, but acknowledges some other types of senior facilities haven’t reported all deaths. ‘We shouldn’t be guessing,’ one lawmaker says.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s nursing home policies have been under scrutiny for months. Now, a review shows more may have died in the facilities than initially known.
For nearly a year, Michigan’s long-term care residents suffered deadly COVID outbreaks and “heart-wrenching” isolation. Tuesday’s order will encourage far more homes to allow visitors.
Michigan’s decision to inoculate seniors first appears to have worked. That provides optimism that wider access to the vaccine could get the pandemic under control.
A few policy tweaks could help more Michigan nursing homes safely reopen to visitors during the pandemic. Loved ones can also play a role by asking the right questions.
Senior care facilities across much of Michigan can now resume indoor visits, yet few appear to be doing so. We highlight places applying DIY creativity to bring lonely residents face to face with those they love.
Michigan has shown progress in getting nursing home residents and staff vaccinated. But overall, nearly 8 percent of people over 70 have received a COVID vaccine in Michigan.
The latest executive order also loosens community dining restrictions in facilities and expands reporting requirements of coronavirus cases to include legal guardians and prospective residents or staff.
