The deaths of the elderly residents have raised concerns for families with loved ones in nursing homes and those considering moving their loved one into a facility. With thousands potentially exposed to the virus in San Antonio, nursing homes in Texas need to continue infection control plans to protect sick and elderly residents from getting coronavirus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that Americans should be prepared for the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak in their communities. Recently, the agency released guidelines on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. These policies should be taken seriously by all nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Families touring nursing homes or those with family members already in nursing facilities should be unafraid to ask facilities how they’re implementing the CDC’s measures.
Yes. For starters, residents live in close quarters in nursing homes. As a result, infections spread easily. The second reason to worry about viruses in nursing homes, particularly the coronavirus, is that because a majority of the deaths have occurred among the elderly population or those with underlying conditions. In China, for example, deaths have disproportionately affected people over 80.
While the coronavirus is not widespread in the United States, there have been about 100 people who have tested positive for the virus as of March 1 and six deaths.
For this reason, it is important to nursing home facilities to curb the possibility of introducing the virus into their elderly resident population.
More than 4 million Americans reside in longterm care facilities and another one million live in assisted living facilities. Preventing infection is the first line of defense in protecting many of these patients.
While other businesses in the state are opening back up, nursing homes should continue to keep their infection control in place. To prevent COVID-19 from affecting nursing home residents, the CDC recommends that nursing homes focus on preventing the introduction of respiratory germs. The guidelines that the CDC recommends for nursing homes are the same precautions it recommends during flu season.
To prevent the introduction of the coronavirus to nursing homes, the CDC recommends the following prevention strategies:
If a resident is found to have a respiratory infection, the nursing facility should implement appropriate policies that prevent the spread of the infection.
Nursing homes should prioritize keeping their residents, families and employees informed about how they intend to prevent COVID-19. Facilities need to have a clear outline of what they’re doing to prevent the spread of germs and how residents, employees and family members can be proactive in protecting nursing home residents.
To prevent the spread of respiratory germs within longterm care facilities, consider the following:
Further, nursing facilities should designate certain employees to care for COVID-19 patients. These employees should receive infection control training.
Finally, if a patient being transferred is suspected or confirmed to have the coronavirus, the facility receiving the patient should be notified. Any possible COVID-19 illness in residents or employees should be reported to the local health departments and HAI/AR coordinator.
Nursing homes often have lax systems for controlling the spread of illness in their facilities. However, they also have a responsibility to protect the residents in their facilities. It is imperative that they follow CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, flu and other illnesses that can spread rapidly in these facilities. When staff fail to follow procedures, they can lead to deadly conditions in our most vulnerable populations.
If your loved one is in a longterm care facility, asking the following questions can help you determine if they’re being protected:
While there are some who don’t view the coronavirus as a threat, the virus can have serious consequences to our most vulnerable populations. Stopping the virus from entering into nursing homes is the first line of defense for many of the residents living in nursing homes. You can ensure that your loved ones are safe by asking nursing home facilities the hard questions.
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