Members of 1199 Service Employees International Union delivered 110 gallons of hand sanitizer in Manhattan to home care employees to protect both the workers and patients from catching COVID-19.
The union represents the Home Health Care workers who take care of seniors and disabled in their homes. The sanitizer will go to agencies throughout the city to prevent home care workers from both catching the virus and giving it to those in their care.
The union presented the sanitizer at the Broadway offices on Premier Home Health Care Center Services, a large agency that provides certified home health aides, sometimes supervised by a registered nurse, who can track vital signs and provide personal and companion care so their patients get all the individualized attention they deserve.
Premier Home Health Care Center will distribute the hand sanitizer to some 9,000 home health aides and their patients. The supply was obtained through the State of New York and Governor Andrew Cuomo. The union responded to the need of home health aides and their patients who desperately need hand sanitizer to protect against the spread of COVID-19
“1199 home care workers are essential employees, and they are on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis,” said Rona Shapiro, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU Home Care Division. “They show up to work every day to care for their clients and keep them healthy under often difficult conditions. Today’s delivery is a way to help these dedicated workers safer and healthier on the job.”
The presentation was part of a total of 640 gallons sent by the state and Gov. Cuomo. The rest will be delivered to facilities around the state.
SEIU has about 9,000 workers with premier home health services.
