Sen. Kelly Statement on Mathematica’s Final Report on CT’s Pandemic Response in Nursing Homes

State Senator Kevin Kelly (R-Stratford), ranking member of the Aging Committee, released the following statement in response to the Mathematica final report on COVID-19 outbreaks at Connecticut nursing homes:

“This confirms my view that the interim report was an indictment on the state’s response to the pandemic in our nursing homes. I’m disappointed that there is no urgency to implement changes and recommendations to better protect the most vulnerable in Connecticut nursing homes. We are in session today voting on bills that have nothing to do with the issues we know put the health and wellbeing of the elderly at risk. There was a mad rush to schedule today’s special session, but where’s the same urgency to act on recommendations that could save lives? What’s more important, the regulation of hemp or the lives of seniors? I’ve heard lawmakers talk about waiting until next year to implement changes. Lives are quite literally on the line. The elderly in our nursing homes do not have time on their side. We can wait no longer.

“Advocates warned about the severely damaging impact of social isolation and the governor did nothing for months. We have known for months that Connecticut failed nursing home residents early on in the pandemic, resulting in 74% of Covid-related deaths occurring in nursing homes – more than double the national average and third worst in the country. We’ve been talking about strengthening the Connecticut Home Care Program and policies like ‘Money Follows the Person’ for years but those issues are put on the back burner by the majority.

“I look forward to reviewing the Mathematica report in greater detail and seeing what additional recommendations and findings have been updated since the preliminary report. But much of what I see so far are the exact issues advocates have been warning about for months. Connecticut must make patient-centered care a priority and guarantee that care plans address the prevention of isolation and loneliness. We have to make sure the terror, fear and isolation that nursing home residents experienced never happens again.”

Read Mathematica’s final report here.