We spoke this week with Penny Shaw, who represents nursing home residents on a commission appointed last month by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The commission will assess nursing home response to COVID-19 and identify best practices to ensure safety and quality of care in the future. It is expected to issue its report to CMS by September 1.
Shaw requires ongoing care for Guillain-Barre syndrome and has lived in a nursing home since 2002. She is well known in the state and across the country as an advocate on issues related to aging and disability. Using a motorized wheelchair for transportation, Shaw is very active in the community. Like others in the state, she currently follows Governor Baker’s stay-at-home advisories while continuing her advocacy work.