Opinion/Letters: Supreme Court fight; caregivers at nursing homes – Opinion – providencejournal.com

Fight seizure of Supreme Court

I stand with Aaron Regunberg (“Fight seizure of Supreme Court by any means necessary,” Commentary, Sept. 30).

We must fight the seizure of the Supreme Court by any legal means available to us. We cannot forget what the Republicans did to rob our country of the wisdom of Merrick Garland on the Supreme Court. Our senators must use all available tactics to block and delay confirmation for as long as possible.

We — and they — must act now. I echo Mr. Regunberg: If not now, when?

Adele Geffen Eil, Providence

Guidelines for caregivers

“You can’t have it both ways,” said Scott Fraser of the Rhode Island Healthcare Association, in reference to allowing essential caregivers access to their loved ones in our state’s nursing homes (“Epidemic of heartbreak,” News, Sept. 29).

Roni Ferraro and many in her heartbreaking situation are not asking for free rein of facilities. They want to abide by the same rules that allow hired health aides to enter and exit safely. I have witnessed how essential Roni has been in the care of her husband, Louie.

Other states’ guidelines for essential caregivers during this time of COVID would be an excellent guide for administrators who would like to “have it both ways.” Guidelines have been adopted in several states including Minnesota whose regulations are published on their state website.

If adopted in Rhode Island, the well-being of both patients and essential caregivers would increase exponentially without putting others at any more risk.

Mary Lou Barrett, Narragansett