The New Normal in Senior Living

In March of 2020, when the government and CDC suggested that COVID-19 would impact every person through May or June, most Americans could not imagine such a thought. Here we are, quickly approaching the beginning of August with guidelines for licensed senior living facilities extended through September 2020 in Texas.

Older Americans and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of becoming critically ill from the virus, a fact that is undisputed. Texas Health and Human Services issued a COVID-19 response plan for assisted living facilities to minimize the spread of the virus. How does the response plan directly affect the residents of these facilities, their families, friends and support network? The following guidelines are from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Response Plan for Assisted Living Facilities

Allowed Visitors and Essential Personnel

• Persons who provide essential services such as doctors, contract nurses, home health and hospice staff whose services are necessary to ensure resident care is provided and to protect the health and safety of residents.
• Persons with legal authority to enter such as HHSC surveyors who presence is necessary to ensure the ALF is protecting the health safety of residents and providing appropriate care, law enforcement officers, representatives of Disability Rights Texas, and representatives of the long term-care ombudsman’s office.
• Family members and loved ones of residents at the end-of-life.

Screening Criteria

• Symptoms such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Contact in the last 14 days with someone who has a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, someone who is under investigation for COVID-19, or someone who is ill with a respiratory illness.
• International travel within the last 14 days to countries with ongoing community transmission.

Safety Guidelines for Visitors

• Visitors who are allowed in the facility must wear a facemask while in the building.
• Remind visitors to refrain from physical contact with residents and others while in the facility.
• Practice social distancing by not shaking hands or hugging and remaining at least 6 feet apart.
• If possible (pending design of building), create dedicated visiting areas near the entrance to the facility where residents can meet with visitors in a sanitized environment. Clean and disinfect rooms after each resident-visitor meeting.

As people are limited in visiting their loved ones in an assisted living facility, there are many creative alternatives that staff have come up with to foster safe communication with residents.

• Set up drive-by parades
• Allow family members and residents to talk through a window or glass door
• Set up video chats (i.e. – Zoom, Skype, Facetime, etc.)
• Write letters and send photos

Hopefully, communities will continue to find new ways to help their residents stay connected with family and friends. The extra connection during this time will certainly help keep up the resident’s spirits!