When Alexa Rivera lost her 78-year-old mother, Anna Martinez, to COVID-19 in a New York nursing home in 2020, her grief turned to outrage. \"They failed her,\" Rivera told myglobalnews.net, describing what she calls systemic neglect exacerbated by a controversial state policy requiring nursing homes to admit patients regardless of their COVID-19 status.
The rule, intended to free up hospital beds during the pandemic's peak, collided with chronic staffing shortages and limited resources. An NBC News investigation later revealed that at least 24 residents died in a single Long Island facility after COVID-positive patients were admitted—only three of whom had been transferred from hospitals.
\"No isolation protocols, not enough PPE, and overworked staff—it was a death sentence,\" Rivera said. Advocates argue the crisis exposed decades of underinvestment in elder care. While New York repealed the policy in 2021, families demand accountability and reforms to protect vulnerable seniors worldwide.
As global populations age, Rivera's story highlights urgent questions: How can societies balance public health emergencies with ethical care for seniors? And what safeguards will prevent history from repeating?
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
