Close all nursing homes to visitors NOW
Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
While everyone in the United States loads up on toilet paper and hand sanitizer, we ignore those who are most at risk.
COVID-19 isn’t touching children and it’s barely making young adults sick, but it is deadly for those who have compromised immune systems and those over 70.
You know someplace that’s full of people that meet those criteria? Nursing homes. You cannot watch more than an hour of CNN without seeing a report on the tragedy at Life Care Center in Kirkland, WA. No nursing home wants that PR nightmare. No one wants that stress and heartbreak. Taking proactive steps now could save dozens of lives in your home.
- Yes, it’ll be a huge burden on some families to not see their loved ones in person for a couple of months. Purchase and utilize as many tablets as you can. Perhaps ask for donations, families would likely be happy to help if they can.
- Make plans now for if the virus does hit your facility. Watch and read some news stories about Life Care Center and learn from some of their mistakes in making your plan. I understand they did the best they could with what they had, but you can learn from their test case. (God knows, they didn’t volunteer for the job.)
- Follow the lead in not punishing workers who get sick. Yes, it will be a pain and borderline illegal when you’re working for weeks with a skeleton crew, but it will keep your residents safe. I remember shifts when I was a CNA where all we accomplished was keeping everyone fed and alive. Activities were canceled and no one got their therapies but everyone got their meals and the residents who really needed baths got them. Some residents were never even taken out of bed on those shifts, but they were repositioned to stay comfortable and prevent bedsores. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
Please, as a former CNA, I am begging every nursing home in America to take these steps to protect our most vulnerable. Take precautions now before it is too late.
