Editorial: Let's Protect Elderly & Disabled Tenants from COVID-19

Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 09/07/2020 - 16:00
Storm clouds loom over apartment building
In Essex County, there are unofficial reports of current cases of COVID-related deaths and illness in public and subsidized housing. This as just the beginning of what can swiftly become a statewide disaster unless there is rapid and immediate implementation of protocols based on best practices and enforcement of public health rulings. For this, we need new legislation.

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legislation
COVID-19
elderly
disabled
public health

Open Letter to the Joint Committee on Public Health

Jerry Halberstadt Sun, 07/19/2020 - 21:25
The purpose of the recently passed law, Acts (2020) Chapter 93, https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2020/Chapter93 is to protect the public health. As tenants in public and subsidized housing for elderly and disabled people, we are highly vulnerable to infection and severe outcomes. Only good information, openly and transparently available, can alert us and the public to a local danger and enable us to make renewed efforts at personal and community protection. Our housing providers in too many cases simply do not care to do their part, and with information we can hold them accountable. The Governor is voiding provisions of that act of the Legislature which he had signed into law on June 7, 2020 by failing to implement certain provisions in a timely fashion. The law mandated the Department of Public Health to collect and publish data on infections and deaths from COVID-19 in a timely and transparent fashion covering "elder care facilities," defined in that act to include

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legislation
public health
elderly
disabled

We can't relax as everyone reopens

Jerry Halberstadt Fri, 06/19/2020 - 17:12

Preventing hospitalization, death from COVID-19

Those of us who are elderly and/or disabled are at increased risk for COVID-19, especially those who live in public and subsidized multifamily housing, do now seek effective public health measures.

We must speak out at this time of the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic out of concern for the well-being of tenants of public and subsidized housing for elderly and disabled residents.

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COVID-19
elderly
disabled
public health

Vulnerable But Vigilant

Jerry Halberstadt Sat, 05/30/2020 - 15:42
Swans and cygnets
We elderly and disabled persons are highly vulnerable to COVID-19 because we have preexisting conditions which can make it harder to survive an infection. Our public and subsidized housing can become dangerous if COVID-19 enters. And medical protocols for dealing with scarce resources may doom us by withholding potentially life-saving treatments. As governments loosen restrictions on interactions in public spaces and allowing some services to begin serving the public, many people are relaxing their guard. But for those of us who are vulnerable, this is a time of increased danger and if we are to survive, we need to be more vigilant. So for us, we need to make every effort to avoid infection. Here's how.

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bullying
disabled
COVID-19
public health
housing

Do Commonwealth Triage Protocols Apply Fair and Just Social Values to Elderly & Disabled?

Jerry Halberstadt Tue, 04/14/2020 - 01:00
The social norms that devalue people of age and disability are choices. The choices made by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Crisis Standards of Care: Planning Guidance for the COVID-19 Pandemic attempt to avoid bias, but nevertheless are affected by bias. Other choices can and should be made.

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elderly
disabled
COVID-19

Essential services for elderly & disabled

Jerry Halberstadt Fri, 04/10/2020 - 17:25
White flowers, black tree, blue sky

We seek your advice and your assistance for our people, the 92,000 residents of the Commonwealth who live in public and subsidized housing for elderly and disabled persons.

We are looking for people with experience who can share their ideas and skills in order to develop solutions to the problems arising from social distancing, specially for elderly and disabled in public or subsidized housing communities.

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elderly
disabled
housing
COVID-19

How We, Elderly & Disabled, Will Survive & Thrive Despite COVID-19

Jerry Halberstadt Wed, 03/18/2020 - 15:47
Image of COVID-19 virus showing spikes that seem like a 'crown'
We provide updated information about the risks of COVID-19 to the elderly and disabled living in public and subsidized housing; steps that each person can take; and best practices & protocols that should be followed by landlords and local housing authorities. Updated: June 9, 2020

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housing
elderly
disabled
COVID-19