Nursing homes and Covid

[Spryte]

I don’t want to derail any of the other Covid threads, but want to hear about experiences others are having with nursing homes, and how nursing homes in other areas are handling this.

We are in a state that does not require nursing homes to disclose cases, but got the call today that there is a confirmed positive case in FIL’s nursing home.  Without violating HIPPA, it sounds like the patient contracted it at a doc visit off facility, or possibly a hospital visit/stay.

Home has converted a portion of one floor to a quarantine wing, reverse ventilation, staff caring for CV patients go in and out a separate back door, and only care for CV patients.

Obviously, we are concerned.  And feeling helpless.  

Last week FIL’s roomie was removed from their room for testing, and he was placed in quarantine.  I am assuming in the special quarantine area, but hopefully not in a room with the positive patient.  His test came back negative, and he’s back with FIL now.  This makes me nervous, but everything is making me nervous right now.  How does it work, quarantining people who might be sick, but also keeping them away from people who are confirmed sick?

Anyone else with family in a home with confirmed Covid?  

How are nursing homes in your area handling this?  

 

[Pen]

I thought there were new rules about nursing homes having to disclose CV19 information regardless of state.

[Spryte]

5 minutes ago, Pen said:

I thought there were new rules about nursing homes having to disclose CV19 information regardless of state.

Oh yes, I saw that mentioned.  It’s new.  Prior to that, as late as last week, our state was not required to disclose.  

 

[J-rap]

My mother is in a facility that has had 4 positive cases now.  I do think they've been handling it as best as they can.  Right after the first positive case, they sent a letter to family members.  The second case came just a day later in the room next door.  Those two recovered.  Then nothing for several weeks, and now two more.  Even before the first case, the facility went into lock-down mode, and all public areas were closed.  All patients have been staying in their rooms ever since, bring brought meals to their rooms, etc.  No one is allowed in the building except staff.

Most rooms are private, but not all.  They're keeping any patient who tests positive in their own room.  If they share a room, they're splitting them.  So, all sick patients recover in a room alone, and would only be transferred to a hospital if necessary.  The staff that works with them work with no other patients.

The staff follows strict guidelines throughout the day as they go in and out of rooms.  

The facility sends all family members email updates every few days.  At first, care facilities in our state were not required to to release their names (I mean, of the facility itself), but even when my mother's did not, they still contacted all family members with any updates.  A couple weeks into it, they were required to to release their names.