New AARP Report: Florida Voters Believe Highly-Trained, Well-Paid Care is Essential

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 25, 2021

CONTACT: Jamie Champion Mongiovi, AARP Florida
(850) 559-7003, jchampion@aarp.org 

Tallahassee, Fla. – AARP Florida today released a full report of voter survey results highlighting overwhelming bipartisan support of policies that ensure nursing home residents receive quality care.

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AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson said, “Our new report shows that nearly all Florida voters 50+ agree that highly-trained, well-paid care for nursing home residents is extremely important. Additionally, voters oppose legislation that would allow Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) to replace Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) in nursing homes, lowering the quality of care.

“We know that Florida’s nursing home residents deserve quality care from well-trained staff. And yet, nursing home industry executives and the Florida legislature continue to fast-track destructive legislation (SB 1132/ HB 485) that would degrade the quality of care provided in Florida’s long-term care system.

“AARP continues to believe that PCAs cannot substitute for the level of care provided by CNAs but can supplement it. Unless the requirements for PCAs align with the level of training and oversight that current CNA trainees must meet before they serve on the floor of Florida nursing homes, residents will be at risk of poor care from undertrained staff. Demonstrated proficiency for PCAs should include classroom and directly supervised clinical hours in order to count toward a nursing home’s staffing requirement or ratio. AARP will continue to be a strong voice for our members and all Floridians who demand and deserve quality care.”

Key Findings:

• Florida Voters Oppose Cutting the Quality of Care: 71% of Florida voters oppose replacing CNAs with lesser-trained PCAs in nursing homes.

• Florida Voters Support a Living Wage for Caregivers: Nearly 90% of voters are in favor of providing a living wage to paid caregivers who work in nursing homes and care for residents.
• Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents is Essential: 96% of Florida voters agreed — the quality of care for nursing home residents is extremely or very important.
• Hold Nursing Homes Accountable: 95% of registered voters in Florida support ensuring residents and their families can hold nursing homes and other long-term care facilities accountable for neglect, mistreatment, or exploitation.

Learn more about AARP Florida’s full report.

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AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.