“06880” reader Michèle Kellner Perkins says:
I am devastated to write that COVID-19 has entered my mother’s nursing home.
Jewish Senior Services in Bridgeport — which serves the elderly of all faiths — is bracing for a rise in the number of cases.
Four residents have already contracted it. Two have died. JSS needs to buy more masks, gowns and other protective gear and equipment, which are in woefully short supply. Plans are underway to hire additional staff and pay overtime hours to existing staff, if necessary.
At the same time, the home has been hit with declining revenues.
Most people don’t realize that approximately 80% of nursing home residents are on Medicaid. JSS is no different.
A total of 330 residents live in individual “houses,” with 14 people in each. Each house has 2 certified nursing assistants. Two nurses generally cover 3 houses. No volunteers are allowed in the building so the staff is on its own, working tirelessly to care for their vulnerable residents.
Anyone with access to personal protective equipment of any kind should email mkperkins@optonline.net or dhayden@jseniors.org, or call 203-365-6409.
All financial donations are deeply appreciated. Click here to contribute. Please help spread the word to friends, family, churches, synagogues, and anyone else you can think of.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. — Michèle