People at an assisted living center on Cape Cod remain under quarantine after one resident tested positive for the coronavirus.
The president of Cape Cod Senior Residences says the entire community is under self-quarantine and only visits that are medically necessary are being permitted.
There has been a sharp increase in coronavirus cases at nursing and retirement homes across the country and those with loved ones in facilities are concerned.
Kathy Lopez has advanced Alzheimer’s and lives at the New Pong Village Memory Care facility in Walpole. Her husband Ed believes New Pond is doing everything it can to keep his wife and the other residents safe. The facility no longer allows visitors, including family members from entering. Ed fully supports that decision but with his wife’s memory issues, he’s worried his connection to her could be lost forever.
“It’s difficult because I would go there almost every day and participate with her in the activities. The sing-alongs they have, the exercises they would have,” said Lopez. “My biggest concern is that she knows me. Right now, she knows who I am she knows I’m her husband, she knows we have three children and I’m just concerned if this goes week after week I might go there and she’ll say who are you?”
With help from staff, Kathy was able to send a photo to Ed Friday afternoon with a note telling him she is doing well and she loves and misses him.
I’m will be sharing Ed Lopez’s story on #Boston25. His wife (pictured) has advanced Alzheimer’s and is in long term care. He fully supports keeping visitors like himself out of facility but worries she may not remember him when he’s finally allowed in again. pic.twitter.com/R2a20cZwJa
— Ted Daniel (@tvnewzted) March 20, 2020
25 Investigates has been contacted by several nursing home employees who say they are afraid to go to work but they feel like they have no other choice.
CDC’s updated guidance to recommend that nursing homes:
• Restrict all visitation except for certain compassionate care situations, such as end of life situations
• Restrict all volunteers and non-essential healthcare personnel (HCP), including non-essential healthcare personnel (e.g., barbers)
• Cancel all group activities and communal dining
• Implement active screening of residents and HCP for fever and respiratory symptoms
COVID-19 is being increasingly reported in communities across the United States. It is likely that SARS-CoV-2 will be identified in more communities, including areas where cases have not yet been reported. As such, nursing homes should assume it could already be in their community and move to restrict all visitors and unnecessary HCP from the facility; cancel group activities and communal dining; and implement active screening of residents and HCP for fever and respiratory symptoms.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
