SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, State Senator Lakesia Collins joined Service Employees International Union members to advocate for safe nursing home staffing levels and spoke about the care in long-term facilities and the options available to Illinois seniors.

“Short staffing can affect the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of workers and often times we have no idea what they are going through and the challenges they face,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “Workers are often punished by shortages with higher workloads and longer hours due to the understaffing, and are often the first to blame when they were the ones who showed up to work.”

Prior to joining the General Assembly, Collins served as a certified nursing assistant in nursing homes and is a strong advocate for care workers and nursing home residents.

As part of her advocacy, Collins passed House Bill 2474 last year to assist seniors in long-term care facilities. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1 2026, enhances protections for Illinois seniors and prevents retaliatory action against nursing home residents. Further, the law requires nursing homes to annually notify residents of their rights regarding retaliation and what the process is to make complaints.

“Families deserve to know that their loved ones are receiving top-notch care without fearing they will receive a call,” said Collins. “While short staffing is an ongoing issue, most facilities follow protocols — but because bad actors don’t always implement safe staffing levels, accountability and transparency is needed now more than ever.”

View Senator Collins’ full remarks here.

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