| Urge Congress to Support the Essential Caregivers Act The Essential Caregivers Act (H.R. 3733) is bipartisan legislation that gives residents of nursing homes the right to access essential caregivers (ECs) during any public health emergency. Contact your members of Congress to urge them to support this important legislation! An essential caregiver is a person, designated by the resident, who can enter the facility, even when visitation is shut down during a public health emergency, to provide support, assistance, and companionship to the resident. Very often, this person is a family member. Each resident can select up to two essential caregivers. These visits will be guaranteed as long as the essential caregiver follows all the safety and infection protocols required of staff so they do not pose any increased risk to resident safety. Essential caregivers who refuse to follow the same protocols will be denied entry. Share our recent issue brief with friends and family members, and contact your memebers of Congress to ask them to support the Essential Caregivers Act! Find contact information for your members of Congress here. |