Two affordable housing nonprofits are helping facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations for their senior residents and essential on-site employees.
Columbus, Ohio-headquartered National Church Residences and Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA), based in Berkeley, California, are just two of the many organizations taking part in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care program. The CDC is partnering with CVS, Walgreens, and Managed Health Care Associates to off on-site vaccination services for residents of nursing homes, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, and Department of Housing and Urban Development-subsidized senior-focused affordable housing, like Section 202 projects.
According to the CDC, the program provides end-to-end management of the vaccinations, from cold chain management and on-site vaccinations to fulfillment of reporting requirements at no cost to the facilities.
“Getting the vaccine will allow residents to start to become more mobile again. The vaccine is the beginning of that pathway back to normalcy,” says Michelle Norris, executive vice president of external affairs and growth strategies at National Church Residences. “We’re not there yet as a society, but this is such a big step. It gives you a sense that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
A nationwide nonprofit focusing on seniors through assisted living, independent living, affordable housing, and skilled nursing, National Church Residences submitted all of our facilities into the program and has become a major participant.
“A benefit for us is that our entire portfolio, for the most part, is focused on seniors. This gives the program an effective way at going to scale,” Norris says.
She credits LeadingAge’s leadership in convening nonprofit groups around the effort. The organization represents more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers, from including a lot of Section 202 affordable housing owners and nonprofits that own skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. “Its membership is deep in the need to get residents and staff vaccinated,” Norris adds.
Vaccinations at National Church Residences’ sites began at the end of December, with the second round of doses already starting at some of the assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. Affordable housing properties were prioritized lower than higher-acuity settings, but those clinics are now also starting to roll out. The nonprofit currently has more than 200 COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled. Norris says she expects 75% to 80% of the nonprofit’s residents and employees will get vaccinated through this program.
Norris says the nonprofit has been doing a lot of education and communication on the vaccine and the clinics. It has put together a toolkit, sent postcards to every employee across the country, put door hangers on all residents’ doors, provided posters for every community, and has provided FAQs for staff and residents to help field questions.
SAHA started the first of its 25 site-based clinics through the program in mid-January.
CEO Susan Friedland says the COVID-19 pandemic has been rough on SAHA’s residents, with the isolation taking an emotional toll for seniors.
“The vaccine rollout has been a huge morale boost for staff and residents,” she says. “It’s a game-changer.”
Friedland says the first clinics held with CVS went smoothly and followed all safety protocols, including social distancing and sanitation. SAHA staff helped residents prepare their forms, and the CVS staff were even prepared to go residents’ units if they were not able to come to the community room. The clinics also were emotional for Friedland and staff.
“We were all sobbing. Our residents are just so happy to get them and are happy to not have to drive somewhere to get them,” she says. “It really feels like this is saving people’s lives in 15 minutes.”
At the first clinic, CVS vaccinated 42 residents, which is about half of the population at that property. The second was at a larger property, with more than 100 residents and staff receiving the vaccine.
While the vaccine rollouts have provided hope for many, the road has still been rocky.
“The one thing that we’re seeing as a challenge is the supply chain,” Norris says. “We have had some clinics cancel, and we’re assuming it has to do with state prioritization concerns or directives as well as supply chain problems. We are actively working to reschedule those.”
