Morris Hills Center Voice Concerns to Lawmakers

Employees and residents at Morris Hills Center nursing home voiced their concerns to Sen. Anthony Bucco and Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty Monday when both toured the nursing home as part of the "Walk a Day in Their Shoes" Event hosted by health-care worker's union 1199 SEIU.

Monday marked the first of three events the union has lined up to give lawmakers insight into the challenges nursing homes are facing. The union explained that these events are meant to show lawmakers how vital this work is and highlight the importance of fixing the Medicaid funding shortfall for New Jersey’s nursing homes in the state budget.

“I think (this issue) is something that our country has lost sight of and hopefully, the senator and myself … through the budget process can do everything we can to get them funding,” said Dougherty. “We appreciate everything they do. This senator is very mindful of our senior population and is well respected. He takes good care of Morris County.”

Dougherty and Bucco toured the different wings of the nursing home and even rolled up their sleeves, donned a hairnet and apron to help out the staff in the kitchen.

In the dining room, employees were able to voice their concerns such as the impact of losing a day’s pay due to lack of transportation during poor weather and snow days.

• Among their concerns were low wages, forcing many employees to work double shifts;
• Transportation for employees was provided during snow days, which is no longer available. Not being able to come to work means not only do employees lose a crucial day’s pay, but the nursing home clients are negatively impacted due to low staffing;
• Employees suggested several solutions such as getting paid vacation days granted for days when employees were not able to make it into work for weather-related reasons;
• Kristen Compton, an administrator at Morris Hills Center, clarified that the situation used to be where an ambulance would help transport staff. However, that is not the case anymore;
• Employees added that because of staff cutbacks, service and care is delayed to the residents;
• Concerns over the diminishing quality of food served to residents due to cutbacks.

There are about 8,000 people who are 1199 members in the state and of the 200-plus employees at Morris Hills Center, 190 are union members according to Compton. 

Don White, resident council president, speaks on behalf of the center’s residents and voices their concerns to staff when needed.

“So many people here are wheelchair-bound or need walkers. Because I don’t I’m able to serve them,” he said. Over time, he’s been able to help solve some of the residents’ concerns. “For example, everyone here is entitled to a cell phone for free.”

When Bucco and Dougherty visited, he didn’t hesitate to speak up.

“We’re trying to get the budget improved here. We have nurses doing clerical work, we have nurses serving food. That’s not their job. The quality of life has (been deteriorating),” he said.

White also asked Bucco what he plans to do about the budget cutbacks that affect the health-care field.

“The problem with (health-care cutbacks) was from budget constraints the state had the last few years,” said Bucco. “Now the revenue is starting to pick up, we’re going to look more closely at what we can do get more funding.”

“It’s always more moving and more effective when places like these facilities take care of our elderly,” said Dougherty. “When we come and see first hand the people who work behind the scenes to take care of our citizens, our people and our families … it’s just moving because this is our history, our families, these are our moms and dads, our aunts and uncles and this is the workforce behind it that are the forgotten group, the unsung heroes, that work so hard and so many hours and don’t make a lot of money.”

“It’s very refreshing to be here. You don’t understand or realize until you see it first hand,” said Bucco. “The concerns that they have about working double shifts, their wages, and how having a snow day means losing a day’s pay, how they have to take care of more clients because of personnel cuts … We’ll be looking at the budget and seeing what we can do. The Budget process starts Wednesday.”

The next two stops for “Walk a Day in Their Shoes” event is Voorhees Center Nursing Home on Wednesday and Cranbury Center Nursing Home on Thursday.