Coronavirus Is Taking Over Nursing Homes
The COVID-19 virus is one you can not escape. The entire world is experiencing complete chaos and panic. Thousands of people have died, entire countries are shut down, hand sanitizer is running out, and the stock market is crashing. This is a time filled with uncertainty throughout the world. All we can do is stay aware of the virus, wash our hands, and take measures to avoid it. The people with the highest risk of COVID-19 include older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease. Elderly adults in nursing homes are among the most at-risk populations. Older people’s immune systems are weaker than others, and they are more likely to have chronic diseases. While children have less than a 1 percent chance of dying when catching the Coronavirus, people over 80 currently have about a 15 percent chance of dying.
Approximately 5 million Americans currently live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities throughout America. If a person gets Coronavirus in one of these facilities, it is difficult to stop the outbreak because of the high number of older people living in such close proximity to one another. They are eating together, socializing together, and touching the same handrails, doorknobs, etc.
In Seattle, the Coronavirus has infected at least 11 nursing home facilities. As of March 12, at least 31 people had died from COVID-19 in Seattle and nearly all of these deaths had occurred within 5 long-term care facilities. Because of this insanely quick spread of COVID-19, the Washington Gov. Jay Inslee issued a proclamation to make sure long-term care facilities limit visitors. Many other places across the country have since instituted similar rules.
At Life Care Center in Seattle, nursing home resident Judie Shape, left, tested positive for the coronavirus. She is waving to her daughter, Lori Spencer, right, on March 11 as they look at each other through a window to avoid spreading it.
In addition to living in close proximity to each other, the caregivers’ jobs demand that they come in close contact with their patients, which does not help. They help the residents bathe, get dressed, go to the bathroom, and eat. The caregivers are not just at risk of getting COVID-19, they can also pass it to the residents. The young and healthy workers may only have mild symptoms, but they can possibly transmit the virus to residents which is very alarming and frightening.
Many senior-living settings have been taking measures to avoid the spreading of COVID-19. The best way to prevent the spread is to thoroughly wash hands and use proper gloves and masks. They also are beginning to clean a lot more thoroughly several times a day. Moreover, if any resident has any symptoms, they are being isolated. At some nursing homes in Seattle, residents are staying in their rooms and food is being delivered. All of these precautions, however, come with many impediments. Kevin O’Neil, the chief medical officer of Affinity Living group, said that implementing this crucial new system can be challenging in “memory care, in dementia-specific facilities, because people may not understand why it's important to wash hands and wear a mask and so forth." O’Neil is guiding Coronavirus-preparedness planning at 160 assisted-living facilities all throughout the Southeast.
There are over 15,000 nursing homes in the U.S. and many are not prepared for this epidemic. In some of these homes, there are not enough staff and resources. They can also be undertrained and underfunded. In Seattle, one woman told the New York Times that she could not speak to her mother who is 85 with dementia for several days. Another woman said, “they are prisoners with no information there.”
This is a very scary time, especially for those who are in or have loved ones in nursing homes. More people are testing positive for Coronavirus every day and more precautions will be made as well. We need to try and stay calm, wash our hands often, keep ourselves safe, and practice social distancing to ensure other’s safety as well.