Assisting A Loved One in a Nursing Home
Nursing home residents are disproportionately affected by
outbreaks. In fact, during the first year of the pandemic, the Kaiser
Family Foundation (KFF) reports those in long-term care facilities accounted
for thirty-one percent of all US COVID-19 deaths as of June 30, 2021. The
Omicron variant is the latest viral iteration and it is highly transmissible
though it appears to be less virulent than its predecessor, the Delta variant.
It seems COVID-19 in its many strains will linger for some time to come,
disproportionately affecting the vulnerable. If you have a loved one in a
nursing home or other long-term care facility, AARP has identified some
specific questions to ask about the facility to help ensure the safety of your
loved one.
Contact the facility and inquire about the status of
COVID-19 vaccinations:
- What
percentage of staff and residents are completely immunized? Compare these
vaccination rates to the state and national averages.
- How
are the staff and residents being educated about the vaccine’s safety and
effectiveness?
- Are
vaccines accessible to the personnel and residents who need them?
Has anyone in the facility tested positive in the past 2
weeks?
- Anyone
who has access to the facility, including employees, residents, customers,
contractors, and maintenance personnel, should be included.
- How
many individuals have been found to be positive if COVID-19 is discovered
- What
is the facility testing policy? How frequently does the facility testing
occur, and who is conducting it?
What steps is the facility taking to prevent COVID-19
outbreaks?
- What
are the security measures in place for people who work at the site, as
well as others who come into contact with it?
- What
steps are being taken to deal with positive cases once they’ve been
discovered? Is there a quarantine at home policy for staff? Are
individuals placed in isolation units after the diagnosis?
- What
are the sanitization procedures and how often do they occur?
- Is
there a policy in place to promote social distance? What precautions are
there for people sharing living spaces with others?
Is there sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE)
for staff, such as masks, face shields, gowns, gloves, and hand sanitizer?
- Is
there a strategy in place to increase supply if the answer is no? What are
the measures in place while you’re waiting for more?
- Is the
staff properly educated on the proper application of each type of PPE?
What measures does the facility take to assist residents
to maintain contact with their families and other loved ones?
- Is
there any opportunity for in-person visitation at the location? What
infection control precautions are in place? Is compassionate end-of-life
visitation allowed if there isn’t in-person visitation?
- Is it
possible for nursing home employees to communicate with residents by phone
or video?
- Is
there a regular visiting time for residents to speak with family and loved
ones?
How does the facility make sure that vital information is
conveyed to residents and their families on a regular basis?
- Is it
feasible for residents, family members, and employees to determine
facility-wide COVID-19 vaccination rates?
- How
long will it take to notify residents and their families or
representatives if there is a COVID-19 case at the facility?
- Is
this information available by phone, email, website, or some other method?
Are there enough doctors, nurses, assistants, and other
personnel on hand at the nursing home?
- Do you
have a strategy in place to meet the demands of nursing home residents,
such as washing, feeding, physical therapy when necessary, drug
administration, and social interaction if there are shortages?
How do you keep your healthy-living program running
smoothly?
- Is
there a plan for incorporating social distance in exercises,
entertainment, and socialization?
- Is
there a service outage, and if so, which ones?
If this is a little overwhelming and you’d like assistance
call our office at 352-205-4455. We have the experience to make sure your loved
one is safe and healthy in their nursing home environment. These tips will help
ensure that they stay as comfortable as possible while living out their
retirement years. Let us know how we can be of service!