Caregivers for Compromise representatives from over ten states came together in Washington, D.C. to speak at a press conference on the steps of the US Capital to introduce H.R. 3733, The Essential Caregiver Act.
In an effort to educate our federal legislators on the impact of isolation in long-term care during the pandemic, Caregivers for Compromise joined forced with others in the Essential Caregiver Coalition to publish a book of personal stories from all 50 states. Protecting them to Death: The Impact of Isolation in Long-Term Care was published and mailed to every US Congressman and Senator so they could see with their own eyes that isolation kills too!
The book can be purchased here.
Our advocacy efforts continue. Caregivers for Compromise groups all over the United States are meeting with legislative aides every week to gain cosponsors for HR 3733, we are meeting with Senators to work on a Senate companion bill and we are continuing to speak to the media to tell our stories. State by state we are being sure that everyone knows the isolation that killed so many can never happen again.
Caregivers for Compromise groups all over the nation planned events around the one year anniversary of the lockdown. For example, in Florida we organized a traveling sign display of that started in Jacksonville, and then traveled to the grounds of the Florida Capital in Tallahassee, to Orlando and then to West Palm Beach. The signs each had the name of a resident who was isolated during the lockdown and represented just a small number of those impacted. Our purpose was to remind everyone that Isolation Kills Too!
Caregivers for Compromise – because isolation kills too! Facebook group was founded by Mary Daniel to serve as a place for caregivers who were separated from their loved ones in long-term care to come together for support and to advocate for change. The national group currently has over 14,000 members.
Caregiver for Compromise – because isolation kills too! individual state groups for all 50 states was also started by Mary Daniel because every state was implementing different rules. The state groups have been influential in changing guidelines and establishing new legislation that allows visitation by essential caregivers.
The Facebook groups served as a place to share information about the current status of lockdowns and visitation in every state and as we moved through the pandemic we were able to educate caregivers on what they needed to know to advocate for their loved ones wherever they lived.