Pittsburgh-based IntegraCare has reached a 100% vaccination rate among staff members at its 13 senior living communities in three states.
“We are proud of our team for getting vaccinated to protect not only themselves but also our residents,” IntegraCare CEO Larry Rouvelas said. “IntegraCare is a great place to work, a great place to live, and now is a safer place for all.”
The senior living company said it will continue providing vaccination access to future staff members and employees through Johnson Pharmaceutical Services. IntegraCare operates communities in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
“Our continued focus is on vaccination of our staff and our residents, as well as expanding visitation opportunities for our families and residents both inside and outside,” said Loriann Putzier, IntegraCare president and co-founder.
Earlier this month, Chicago-based Enlivant announced that it had reached a 90% vaccination rate for both staff members and residents through its “Together We Can Do It” campaign. The operator said it will continue to mandate employee vaccination with a goal of reaching 100%.
Atria Senior Living previously achieved a 98% vaccination rate among staff members, and Silverado reported a 97% rate, through vaccine mandates. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii also recently reported achieving an average 84% staff COVID-19 vaccination rate among the state’s long-term care facilities, including assisted living.
The Oregon Health Authority Interim Long-Term Care Facility COVID-19 Vaccination Report shows that the state exceeded its target of having 75% of long-term care facilities residents vaccinated. As of May 9, 84% of residents and 62% of staff were fully vaccinated at assisted living and residential care communities and nursing facilities.
Kentucky-based Trilogy Health Services recently announced that it is mandating vaccination as a condition of employment. The company operates more than 110 senior living communities or skilled nursing facilities in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The company, as do others, provides vaccination exemptions for medical or religious reasons.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has proven beyond a doubt that we must take all necessary precautions against spreading illness in our communities,” a Trilogy Health Services website post reads. “In doing so, we not only help our employees live healthy, happy lives, we decrease our residents’ risk of contracting and suffering from diseases that are especially dangerous to seniors and those with preexisting conditions.
“Our servant leadership culture encourages each of us to make decisions that not only benefit ourselves, but the people around us — because they’re our family.”
Trilogy has a 70% vaccination rate for both residents and staff, according to its website.
In addition to the aforementioned companies, to date, these and possibly other providers are requiring COVID vaccines of employees: ALG Senior, American House Senior Living Communities, The Arbor Co., Benchmark Senior Living, Civitas Senior Living, Five Star Senior Living, Juniper Communities, Integral Senior Living, Jewish Home Family, Masonicare, Presbyterian Senior Living, Retirement Center Management, Silverado and Sunrise Senior Living. Other operators have said they will consider a mandate if the vaccines receive full approval.
Continuing Healthcare Solutions, an Ohio assisted living and skilled nursing operator, announced in March that it would require employee vaccination but recently said that it now plans to wait until the vaccinations receive full federal approval before enforcing its inoculation mandate for employees.
