Coronavirus and Assisted Living Homes

Since the elderly are especially susceptible to COVID-19 (coronavirus), you’re probably worried about your loved one living in an assisted living home. You’re right to be concerned. As of Friday, March 20, more than a quarter of the American lives lost to COVID-19 were people living in elder care facilities.

Let’s talk about how you can support your loved one and what assisted living homes are doing in the face of this crisis. It will take all of us working together to see our loved ones through this outbreak.

Why Can’t I Visit My Loved One in Assisted living?

Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued guidelines for nursing homes and assisted living facilities that restrict access to these places to only staff, certain medical professionals, and providers of essential services. These precautionary measures are intended to reduce the chances of introducing COVID-19 to resident populations.

That means visitors are not allowed except in some compassionate care cases for people who are at the end of their life. These visits are up to the discretion of the facility.

While it’s terrible not to be able to visit your loved one during these trying times, it is the best way to reduce the risk of introducing a deadly disease to a vulnerable population.

What Are Assisted Living Homes Doing to Curb the Spread of COVID-19?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have released detailed guidelines for assisted living facilities to follow that should help curb the spread of COVID-19. A few of their recommendations include:

• Restrict all visitation apart from some compassionate care situations
• Restrict all volunteers and non-essential healthcare personnel
• Cancel communal dining and group activities
• Implement active screening for staff and residents to check for fevers and coughs

When Can I Visit My Loved One Again?

Governor Greg Abbott’s executive order prohibiting visitors to nursing homes, closing schools, and limiting gatherings to 10 people is valid through at least April 3. The situation will be assessed in the next two weeks, and the order may be extended further until the crisis passes.

There is no way to know for sure how long it will be before the threat has passed, and you will be able to visit your loved one in person again.

Will My Loved One Still Get the Care They Need?

Residents of assisted living facilities often bring in additional outside help for specific tasks that the staff doesn’t have time for. As this outside help is restricted from entering many of these facilities, your loved one may start to lack the care they need. You should call their facility to see how they are handling an increased demand for their staff, which may be reduced due to the illness.