[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, AND ON "CRONKITE NEWS," CONCERNS OVER A CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE AND WHAT'S BEING DONE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

IT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

MORE CASES OF THE OMICRON VARIANT HAVE BEEN FOUND IN THE U.S. COLORADO AND MINNESOTA HAVE BOTH REPORTED CASES.

REACTION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO THESE NEW CASES, AND ANY SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT TRACING?

>> WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE ASSESS COMMUNITY SPREAD AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE.

>>> AND HEALTH OFFICIALS EXPECT TO FIND MORE CASES OF THE VARIANT VARIANT.

ARIZONA ADDED MORE THAN 4,000 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 TODAY.

THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES WAS 33 ON THE DAY.

>>> OTHER NEWS, THE CONCESSION WORKERS STRIKE AGAINST HMS HOST AT SKY HARBOR IS OVER.

THE UNION MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY SAYING WORKERS WILL GO BACK ON THE JOB AFTER BEING OUT FOR SEVEN DAYS.

TALKS HAVE BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR FOUR YEARS.

>>> FALLOUT CONTINUES OVER A FATAL SHOOTING OF A SHOP-LIFTING SUSPECT WHO WAS CONFINED TO A MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR.

POLICE SAY THE MAN CONTINUED MOVING TO A NEARBY LOWE'S WHERE HE REFUSED TO DROP A KNIFE WHERE A POLICE OFFICER SHOT HIM IN THE BACK NINE TIMES.

>> IT IS OUTRAGEOUS WHAT THIS MAYOR HAS DONE TO TRY THIS CASE IN THE MEDIA.

I THINK WE HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO KEEP THIS PROCESS CLEAN AND EFFECTIVE.

AND WE TRUST THEY ARE GOING TO CONSIDER EVERYTHING AND NOT MAKE A JUDGMENT INLESS THAN 24 HOURS.

>>> AND FORBES HAS TWEETED THAT THE COYOTES ARE FOR SALE, AND MOVING TO HOUSTON.

THE COYOTES SAY THIS IS FALSE, AND WE'RE NOT MOVING.

>>> THERE IS A STAFFING SHORTAGE AT ARIZONA'S NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM HEALTH FACILITIES.

TONIGHT AS OUR MONTHLY AARP-SPONSORED SEGMENT, WE SPOKE TO DAVID VOEPEL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION ABOUT JUST HOW BAD THE STAFFING SHORTAGE IS.

DAVID VOEPEL THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS SHORTAGE OF CAREGIVERINGS IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, IS THIS NOW A CRISIS?

>> IT IS A CRISIS.

WE HAD A CRISIS BEFORE COVID HIT, AND NOW IT IS EXPONENTIALLY WORSE.

THIS IS MISSION-DRIVEN WORK.

YOU HAVE TO WANT TO BE THERE.

OTHERWISE WHY NOT JUST GO TO McDONALD'S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND DURING COVID, IT HAS JUST GOTTEN EXPONENTIALLY WORSE, BECAUSE THOSE MISSION DRIVEN FOLKS ARE STILL THERE, BUT THOSE WHO ARE LIKE, I'M SCARED, OR I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A SKILLED-NURSING FACILITY, THEY ARE JUST QUITTING >> AND IS RETIREMENT AN ISSUE?

>> IT IS.

A LOT OF RETIREMENTS.

IT'S JUST A STRUGGLE ALL THE WAY AROUND, AND WITH OCCUPANCY THE WAY IT IS, AND ARIZONA IS AT ABOUT 64% OCCUPANCY, AND THE NATION IS AT ABOUT 70%.

AND WE HAVE MEDICATED-MANAGED CARE HERE, AND WITH THAT TYPE OF SITUATION, IT HAS REALLY BEEN A STRUGGLE TO NOT ONLY KEEP YOUR OCCUPANCY, AND THEN MAKING SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH STAFF FOR THE OCCUPANCY.

SO AS AN OWNER YOU WISH FOR MORE PEOPLE COMING IN, BUT IF YOU CAN'T TAKE CARE OF THEM, YOU CAN'T BRING THEM IN, IN ADMISSIONS.

THE LAST STAT THAT I HEARD WAS -- THIS WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

THERE WERE ABOUT 36,000 FILIPINO NURSES HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT THEY COULDN'T GET APPROVED BECAUSE THEIR VISAS WEREN'T APPROVED.

AND THAT IS JUST ONE COUNTRY THAT HAS FOLKS SITTING HERE IN OUR COUNTRY THAT ARE APPROVED TO BE HERE, BUT THEY CAN'T WORK BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROPER HEALTHCARE VISA.

SO WHAT ARE WE DOING?

>> AND BURNOUTS, WE'RE HEARING THAT IS A FACTOR AS WELL.

>> OH, IT IS A MAJOR FACTOR.

WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THE STRUGGLES THAT FOLKS ARE GOING THROUGH SINCE MARCH, THE KIRKLAND BUILDING IN WASHINGTON STATE WAS THE FIRST BUILDING TO GET COVID, AND THE NEXT DAY 40% OF THEIR STAFF LEFT AND DIDN'T COME BACK.

SO YOU HAVE THOSE FOLKS THAT TRY TO FILL IN.

WE'RE A YEAR AND A HALF PLUS INTO THIS THING, AND TRYING TO GET STAFF AND KEEP THEM IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

>> WE WERE TALKING THAT ARIZONA HAS FEWER FACILITIES THAN OTHER STATES.

>> YEAH.

WE HAVE OVER 2600 ASSISTED LIVING GROUP HOMES AND CENTERS.

THE MODEL WAS FLIPPED FROM EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE UNION.

IT COSTS MORE TO BE IN A SKILLED NURSES FACILITY, SO OUR STATE FOLKS WANT TO SEE A LESS-COSTLY PROGRAM, SO THEY WILL TRY TO PUT FOLKS INTO ASSISTED LIVING, AND THAT'S JUST HOW IT WORKS IN ARIZONA.

AND WHEN YOU HAVE HOME AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES, YOU CAN AFFORD TO DO THAT KIND OF THING.

AND CMS LOVES IT.

>> RIGHT.

THE IMPACT OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID ON RURAL AREAS, HARD?

>> EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

YOU HAVE A 50% OCCUPANCY, AND YOU CAN'T GET PEOPLE TO HELP, AND YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T CLOSE.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST -- IT WOULD BE WRONG.

IT IS DIFFICULT AT BEST.

>> SO WE UNDERSTAND ALL OF THESE DIFFICULTIES, AND IT IS NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.

AND SO DO YOU PAY MORE OR WHAT?

>> PART OF THE PROBLEM IS MEDICAID DOESN'T KEEP UP WITH THESE PANDEMICS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

MEDICAID IS PAYING AN AVERAGE OF 185 BUCKS A DAY.

FOR THAT AMOUNT, YOU GET ROUND THE CLOCK NURSING, THREE MEALS A DAY, THE LIGHTS ON, AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE ACUITY PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE THERE HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON, THEY HAVE ISSUES GOING ON.

OTHERWISE THEY WOULD BE IN THEIR HOME OR A COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE.

SO WITH THAT, AT 185 BUCKS A DAY, THAT DOLLAR JUST GOT A LOT TIGHTER.

SO KNOWING ALL OF THAT, IT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT.

>> SO YOU NEED MORE MONEY TO PAY THESE FOLKS?

>> YES, YOU DO.

HOW DO YOU MAKE ENDS MEET AT THAT WAGE.

>> LAST QUESTION, ANY LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL HERE?

>> WE'RE COMING AT A CROSS ROADS.

THE CROSS ROADS FOR LONG-TERM CARE IS THE VACCINE MANDATE WHICH HITS DECEMBER 6TH, AND HOW MANY STAFF ARE GOING TO LEAVE DECEMBER 7TH?

WE'RE GUESSING SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 15 TO 20%, AND YOU ARE ALREADY DOWN IN STAFF ANYWAY.

SO IF WE HIT THAT THRESHOLD, THEN WE CAN START TO REGIVED REGIVED -- REBUILD.

>> DAVID VOEPEL, THANK YOU FOR JOANING US >> THANK >>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE ARIZONA OPERA RETURNS TO IN-THEATER PERFORMANCES WITH A MARIACHI OPERA .

>>> THE ARIZONA OPERA IS RETURNING TO IN-THEATER PERFORMANCES JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS WITH EL MILAGRO DEL RECUERDO, THE MIRACLE OF REMEMBERING, A MARIACHI OPERA SET -- ING CHRISTMAS.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE TO JAVIER MARTINEZ AND CECILIA DUARTE ABOUT IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THIS IS CALLED EL MILAGRO DEL RECUERDO, THE MIRACLE OF REMEMBERING.

>> YES.

>> SO GIVE US A SHORT THUMBNAIL SKETCH OF THIS PERFORMANCE.

>> THIS IS A CHRISTMAS OPERA TO CALL IT -- TO DEFINE IT IN -- >> IT IS GOOD.

>> EXACTLY.

AND IT TELLS ABOUT FAMILY AND UNION, AND BEING AWAY FROM HOME, IMMIGRATION, OF COURSE, BUT THINGS THAT HAVE PROBABLY HAPPENED TO MOST OF US, IT IS QUITE REAL AND QUITE NATURAL, AND IT IS LIKE A WINDOW INTO THE TRANSITIONS THAT PEOPLE FOLLOW IN MEXICO DURING CHRISTMASTIME.

>> AND YOUR CHARACTER IS INVOLVED IN A CHRISTMAS PLAY.

>> A CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, YEAH, IT'S IS ABOUT LOOKING FOR BABY BABY -- BY JESUS, AND MARY AND JOSEPH.

>> AND AS WE MENTIONED THIS IS THE SECOND MARIACHI OPERA CONNECTED TO THE SAME THING.

>> YES.

>> SO TELL US ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> OKAY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] WAS MADE FOR MY FATHER, AND THIS IS A PREQUEL OF THAT.

IT'S -- FOR ME, IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL THING TO CONNECT TO THE FAMILIES, AND IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL STORY, AND TO ME, IT IS VERY, VERY MAGICAL, BECAUSE IT IS CONNECTED TO BOTH STORIES AND THE MARIACHI MUSIC.

>> AND I UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS, IT IS ABOUT -- TOWARDS THE END OF HIS LIFE, AND THIS IS WHEN HE HAS COME HOME FROM THE UNITED STATES.

>> YEAH.

IT WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST CHRISTMAS THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE TOGETHER, AND HE IS VERY SET IN HIS WAYS, AND HE KEEPS WORKING, AND SHE REALLY WANTS TO KEEP HER FAMILY TOGETHER, AND ASKS FOR HIM TO COME, SO THEY CAN SEE THEIR SON GROW TOGETHER, SO WE GET TO SEE THAT CONFLICT.

>> AND YOU GET TO HEAR WONDERFUL MUSIC.

BUT ONE OF THE REVIEWS TALKS ABOUT THE MIX OF MUSIC.

YOU HAVE ROCK AND ROLL, AS WELL AS THE MARIACHI.

>> YES, I TRIED TO BRING TOGETHER THE TWO CULTURES, YOU KNOW?

IT WAS A VERY BEAUTIFUL [ INAUDIBLE ].

>> YEAH, A VERY GOOD TRIP, YEAH.

>> BETWEEN THE TWO CULTURES AND -- >> YEAH.

>> AND WE'RE ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

I KNOW YOU COULDN'T DO THIS LAST YEAR, BECAUSE OF COVID, BUT IT IS BEING PERFORM THIS YEAR.

>> YES.

>> WHAT WILL STRIKE PEOPLE THE MOST WHEN THEY GO TO SEE THIS?

>> I THINK EVERYBODY GETS IDENTIFIED WITH A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STORY.

A DIFFERENT CHARACTER.

SO I THINK IT WILL SPEAK DIFFERENTLY TO EVERYONE IN THE AUDIENCE.

I THINK FOR MOST PEOPLE IT WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THEY EXPERIENCE A LIVE SHOW AFTER A WHILE, SO THAT IS GOING TO BE QUITE SPECIAL FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT FAMILY AND CHRISTMAS, THE HOLIDAY SEASON, FRIENDS, UNITY, AND SEPARATION.

>> SO A GOOD WAY TO GET BACK OUT OF THE HOUSE.

>> OH, IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS, AN ORGANIZATION WITH MORE THAN 70,000 HOURS OF PUBLIC SERVICE WORKING TO CONTINUE ITS MISSION.

>> I HOPE YOU ARE