Nursing home workers rally at State Capitol to demand lawmakers pass legislation to stop short staffing and enforce 2010 minimum staffing law. Standing left of podium is Representative Anna Moeller; and right, Senator Jackie Collins, May 29th. 2019.

After State Lawmakers Passed Short Staffing Legislation in 2010 that Was Never Properly Enforced, Nursing Home Workers and AARP Illinois Partnered Together to Push Lawmakers to Hold the Nursing Home Industry Accountable

Contact: scott.vogel@seiuhcil.org

(June 2nd, 2019, Chicago) – Nursing home workers celebrated the passage of historic legislation to stop short staffing by the nursing home industry.

On the closing days of the legislative session state lawmakers approved a series of sweeping reforms to give authority to the Illinois Department of Public Health, which regulates nursing homes, to level penalties and fines on facilities that don’t provide adequate and safe staffing.  State lawmakers also approved $70M in increased Medicaid funding to nursing homes to meet the 2010 staffing requirements.

In April, the State Senate overwhelmingly approved Senator Jackie Collins’s (16th District – Chicago) safe staffing enforcement bill, Senate Bill 1510, who championed the cause along with Representative Anna Moeller (43rd District – Elgin).

That successful vote, in addition to nursing home workers lobbying the bill non-stop in concert with AARP Illinois, created enormous momentum and pressure on the General Assembly to act. Senate Bill 1510 was passed as part of the Budget Implementation Plan found in Senate Bill 1814.

This legislative package and language will finally enforce the minimum staffing law passed by the legislature in 2010 after news reports and investigations revealed rampant cases of neglect and abuse in Illinois nursing homes.

In response, SEIU Healthcare Illinois President Greg Kelley issued the following statement:

“This victory to stop short staffing in Illinois is nothing short of historic for our state’s nursing home workforce.

“We take pride in the fact that nursing home workers are committed to fight on behalf of all seniors, residents, and families. Everyone understands that the nursing home workforce are not only dedicated caregivers, but also strong advocates for justice and quality care.

“We applaud and deeply appreciate our nursing home member leaders, stewards, and activists who fought so hard to make this day a reality. Their tenacity organizing fellow workers, going to lobby days in Springfield every week, holding rallies and press events is proof that when we fight we win!

“Nursing home workers deserve a safe and secure work environment where caregivers are not constantly overburdened, exhausted, and stressed trying to care for sometimes up to 30 or 40 residents, if not more, at a single time. They absolutely deserve a fair and living wage, affordable healthcare, and a real voice on the job.

“We thank our partners at AARP Illinois for their leadership on this issue and for the resources and commitment they brought to the table.

“We also applaud our legislative champions, Senator Jackie Collins and Representative Anna Moeller for their tenacity and willingness to stand up and fight for nursing home workers and seniors across our state — as well as every lawmaker who voted in support of nursing home workers and seniors.

“Our Union is committed to making sure the short staffing law is properly enforced. And with this major victory behind our backs, we are passionate about making sure the nursing home industry respects the hard work and service that caregivers provide every day.”

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