Rhode Island nursing homes collecting to help those battling Ebola

Posted 12/4/14

The Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA), a non-profit professional association of 65 skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers throughout the state, is raising funds on behalf of nursing …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Rhode Island nursing homes collecting to help those battling Ebola

Posted

The Rhode Island Health Care Association (RIHCA), a non-profit professional association of 65 skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers throughout the state, is raising funds on behalf of nursing home staff whose families and friends have been personally affected by Ebola. This December, members of the association are collecting donations for Doctors Without Borders and Samaritan’s Purse, non-profit organizations providing aid to the people of West Africa. RIHCA will match the first $5,000 in donations.

Many members of Rhode Island’s long term care workforce came here from the three countries most affected by Ebola: Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. These individuals, many of whom are performing laborious and unsung housekeeping, kitchen and laundry jobs at skilled nursing centers, have loved ones back home who are in danger.  In addition to the helpless fear of worrying about their families, these staffers are coping with stigma and prejudice in Rhode Island, due to ignorance about the nature of this terrible disease.

 “It’s so important that we support those who support us on a daily basis. Our friends and co-workers in our nursing centers are the backbone of our workforce. They care for others every day. It’s only right that we should show them how much we care about them,” said Virginia Burke, RIHCA president and CEO.

 A list of RIHCA facilities can be found on www.rihca.com. Rhode Islanders are asked to donate with checks made payable to Doctors Without Borders or Samaritan’s Purse at any RIHCA center or by sending directly to: The Rhode Island Health Care Association, 57 Kilvert St., Suite 200, Warwick, RI 02886-1009, Attn: Ebola.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here