COVID-19 Racing Through Nursing Homes: What Families Can Do

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The United States is experiencing another surge of COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents.

A report published in mid-August through the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living found that another 9,715 people in nursing homes died from COVID-19 the week of July 26.

This is in addition to last week’s 8,667 deaths and 5,538 deaths in the week of June 28, the lowest number since the start of the pandemic.

This was also higher than the 9,421 deaths reported in the week of May 31.

In a press release, both organizations said the recent buildup of an “alarming spike” caused by the spread of COVID-19 in the summer among the general population.

More than 45,000 other people living in retirement homes have died from COVID-19 in the United States since the start of the pandemic.

More than 177,000 COVID-19s have been shown involving elderly household citizens across the country.

In early June, a geriatric center at two Boston medical services reported that long-term care services are an “important factor” in COVID-19 deaths in the United States.

The researchers reported that those services accounted for 63% of all COVID-19 deaths in Massachusetts.

They added that nursing homes also accounted for 81% of COVID-19 deaths in Minnesota and Rhode Island at the time, including 71% in Connecticut and 70% in New Hampshire.

In 22 other states, long-term care services accounted for more than a portion of all COVID-19 deaths.

As these deaths continue to increase, health professionals in these services are suffering to care for a population that is a victim of the pandemic without problems.

“When you look at the COVID-19 mortality rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 85% of deaths occurred in other people age 65 and older,” Emma, a physiotherapist in a nursing home.East Coast said Healthline in April.” So an apparent trend.”

“It has the maximum population at risk of mortality and COVID-19-like symptoms in hospitals and nursing homes, because that’s where the largest elderly population and the largest population of others with illnesses or diagnoses are located,” said Emma, who asked that her last name not be used in this story.”You may see more deaths in those facilities, and I think most of those deaths are due to the fragility that many patients already had, which put them at a higher risk of mortality, and not necessarily poor preparation or care.”

The situation in nursing homes is so dire that the CDC announced in mid-April that they were tracking cases in retirement homes and long-term care facilities.

Facilities are now required to report cases to cdc, as well as other patients and their families.

“Our country, unlike the others, is separated by age,” Steven M. Levin, a Chicago attorney specializing in nursing home advocacy, told Healthline in April. “Only 13% of other older people live with a prolonged circle of family members. Instead, they live in their own community. Now we find that once an infection occurs, it can temporarily become a disaster.”

A New York Times investigation reported in May that there were at least 8,500 nursing homes and other long-term care services in the United States with reported coVID-19 cases.

This included the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington, where another 43 people died at the start of the pandemic.

The facility imposed a $611,000 fine for its response.

This is necessarily the right way to solve the problem, according to Dr. Josh Luke, who teaches at the Sol Price School of Public Policy at the University of Southern California and has been a director at Carriage House Nursing Center in Fullerton, California, since 2003.2004.

“The federal government wants to take a look at nursing homes,” he told Healthline Luke, who is also executive director of Memorial Hospital in Gardena, California.”Are you looking to find out what’s going on and you’re fining them?”

Luke said legislation regulating a number of patient-friendly workers is already too weak in nursing homes, many of whom will accept new patients for the duration of the existing blockade.

He said retirement homes are aware that they will be sued once it is finished.

“Elderly homes will have to be a component of fitness plans. They want to increase nursing ratios. They’re already operating with the smaller margins,” Luke said. “It may only take a year to fill 50 beds in an institution. The staff gets sick, they’re afraid and they don’t show up.”

The complex age and underlying fitness of patients go against care facilities.

In addition, the maximum has the skills and the apparatus to deal with a fatal epidemic.

“Institutions are not required to have a doctor on site,” Gail Trauco, a qualified nurse and patient advocate, told Healthline Gail Trauco.”Most establishments have a medical director who can oversee various services and can be obtained over the phone.care services have 911 and the transportation of patients to local hospitals for undeniable problems “.

“Long-term care services were ready for a pandemic,” Trauco added. “The EpiT (personal protective equipment) is limited to masks, gloves and gowns. The isolation rooms are virtually non-existent. Why would you have an isolation room when there is a benefit to be made in all rooms and all the beds occupied?”

Emma said the establishments were doing what they could with what they had.

“It’s perceiving the U.S. medical formula. Before assuming that nursing homes don’t care enough for those everyone enjoys,” he told Healthline. “Hospitals are more productive and prepared for a crisis like COVID-19 because they are used to the sickest patients and have a diversity of doctors, specialists and special teams. They have extensive care sets and have surveillance formulas.

“By comparison, a nursing home is designed for sometimes robust medical situations that only require more supervision,” he added. “I think the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted a weakness in this model and I think we’ve all learned a vital lesson.”

It can be difficult to transition a user to a long-term call center.

Levin said communication with the facility is essential. Ask questions, add staffing proportions.

“It’s terrible to think that the one you enjoyed is in an establishment where they can be inflamed at any time and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Levin said.

Once a member of the family circle is in a nursing home, Levin says “contact, contact, communicate.”

“Call the property. Talk to the manager. Talk to the director of nursing,” he advised. “If possible, contact the nurses who care for your loved one. See what you can do with electronic communication to talk to your loved one.” . »

Physical visits are limited by the pandemic, so Luke suggests asking if there’s any way to see someone through a window or some other form of barrier.

He also said that families deserve to consider bringing older parents home if they can care for them, or seek home or outpatient treatment if they can.

Emma said it can be tricky if that user can’t get up or has trouble eating.

“You know that many establishments would probably not accept new patients at this time because of the threat of exposure from their existing patients,” he said. “If an establishment is willing to admit a member of the family circle, my number one advice is to request a personal room.”

Emma said that, if possible, give members of the circle of family reading fabrics as well as undeniable training fabrics.He also wants to make sure they walk safely.

“In my current experience, social isolation and boredom are really difficult,” he said. “I encourage families to call or play FaceTime at least once a day. This way, you can keep your parents mentally stimulated, comforted and you can also log in to the call. Try to be creative. Instead of just a phone call or a FaceTime session, check out exercise, bet a game, or make fun plans to end this crisis. »

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