On Tuesday, August 27, one hundred caregivers, community supporters and Florida state representative Ricardo Rangel rallied at the headquarters of Consulate Health Care, the state’s largest and fastest growing nursing home chain, to denounce the company’s practice of choosing profits over the public’s trust. Members shared stories of struggling to make ends meet, living with cancer without insurance they can’t cannot afford and exhaustive working conditions.



As community activists and caregivers gather outside the national company’s headquarters chanting “When you say cut back, we say fight back,” five workers and Rep. Rangel attempted to enter the nursing home giant’s offices, but were turned away.



“The company locked their doors and wouldn’t let us in," said Eva Daniel-Lord, a CNA at Consulate of Kissimmee. “As their employees, we have a right to make our voices heard. I wanted to tell them we won’t stop until we get respect.”



The rally came just weeks after Consulate Health Care was recognized by the Orlando Business Journal for being the fastest growing company by dollar growth (2010 – 2012) and overall revenue for 2012. While Consulate Health Care continues to make record profits and executive compensation soars, caregivers at Consulate-affiliated facilities are struggling to meet basic needs.



“As a community, we should expect more…much more from a company that cares for our loved ones,” said Damaris Rivera-Morales, a certified nursing assistant and transporter. “They are a very profitable company, and we are proud to have played a part in the success of the company, but they are doing so with our tax dollars – through Medicaid. It is their moral responsibility to provide the best quality care for our loved ones, while reinvesting some of the profits in order to provide better pay and benefits to caregivers so, in turn; we can care for their families.”