If there is a silver lining to America having to suffer through the Coronavirus epidemic it is the honor and respect that medical professionals have earned for their unselfish work in treating the ill. No other group has had to put their own safety and well-being on the line as those who daily take extreme risks in order that those who are most likely to become infected are safe.

This is especially true for those who work in nursing homes across the nation where the epidemic has proven percentage wise to be most the deadly. Of the 281 nursing homes in Louisiana the death total has now risen to over 900 with several reporting mortality rates of over 25% of their residents according to the Louisiana Department of Health Nursing Home report issued on May 18, 2020. In Jackson, Bienville and Lincoln Parishes alone there have been 117 cases reported that have resulted in 25 deaths.

Candidate for Division B (Jackson/Bienville/Claiborne) Judge Yumeaka Robinson Washington along with Mayor of Arcadia, Olandis Millican recently showed their appreciation by feeding the staff of Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Leslie Lakes Retirement Center in Bienville Parish and Forest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Jonesboro during National Skilled Care Nursing Week.

“These facilities have been hit hard by COVID-19,” said Washington. “This has been very emotionally and physically draining on the staff. Please continue to uplift and pray for our frontline medical workers.”

Statistics of Jackson/Bienville/Lincoln Parish nursing homes – per LDH report May 18th.