How Is The Coronavirus Affecting Nursing Homes?

Nursing homes across the country have become epicenters or "hot spots" of the coronavirus spread. This is because nursing homes include people who are most at risk for the virus, including those with chronic conditions and those who are elderly. The massive increase in cases is causing many nursing home residents and workers to fall ill with the virus. Many nursing homes have since shut down, and remaining healthy residents are being moved. As of now, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan have been the most affected and are reporting the most cases.

The virus seems to have taken hold inside a nursing home in the state of Washington. There seems to be a link between this nursing home and the majority of the cases in the U.S. It is a common occurrence for sickness to spread quickly in nursing homes due to the age of the residents and the number of people with chronic health conditions. So, the rise of COVID-19 is especially dangerous to those who work and reside in nursing homes. 

How Sickness Spreads in Nursing Homes

Facilities that provide long-term care tend to be a haven for the spread of infections and diseases. Elderly patients who are already more susceptible to falling ill, are unsurprisingly being more affected by the coronavirus. These elderly individuals likely have chronic conditions that make it more likely to catch the virus. Many believe that new cases will be reported inside the Life Care Center in the coming days as more patients and staff are being tested.

The First Outbreak

The first nursing home outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States was the Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. It has been severely affected by the coronavirus in early to mid-March. This specific nursing home accounted for the majority of the initial coronavirus deaths in the U.S. About 50 nursing home residents have contracted the virus so far. As of March month, there have been at least 23 coronavirus-related deaths linked to this nursing home.

A nursing home resident who is in her 70s is in critical condition, as well as one of the healthcare workers on staff, a woman in her 40s. Officials are continuing to test patients and residents, but it remains unclear exactly how many people have been infected. To prevent the spread of disease, the nursing home is no longer allowing family, friends, volunteers or vendors to enter the facility. This is an effort to contain the virus which has already infiltrated the nursing facility. 

How To Manage The Outbreak 

By isolating the sick and practicing social distancing, this outbreak can be contained. It’s very important to reach out to anyone who has been in contact with anyone affected by the virus. This can be friends, family or volunteers who have visited the currently affected individuals. If anyone has been to a nursing home that is now having a coronavirus outbreak, they should seek medical testing and limit contact with others. If you start feeling flu-like symptoms, you should speak to your physician. 

During the outbreak of a disease, the focus needs to be on proper self-quarantine measures. Everyone including the staff members and residents of the nursing facility will need to strictly follow them. These safety measures include wearing face masks and gloves and frequent hand washing to prevent the further spread of disease.

The Workers on the Frontline

Healthcare workers and EMTs are on the frontlines of this destructive virus. People who work in healthcare are even more exposed to diseases and viruses than the average person. Many are starting to experience various symptoms because of constant exposure to the virus and affected individuals. In recent days, one-third of the staff from the Kirkland, Washington nursing home are reported as being quarantined. 

To stay up-to-date on any new developments with the coronavirus, it’s vital to pay attention to any local and state updates. The majority of the country is on a state lockdown and many nursing homes are moving their residents. The CDC is putting out new information and updates every day in an effort to keep the public informed and healthy.