How families with loved ones in nursing homes are dealing with social distancing

IPSWICH, Mass. — Nursing homes and long-term care facilities house some of the most vulnerable populations to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across New England, families with loved ones in these facilities have been asked not to visit as the spread of the virus could be life-threatening to many residents. It’s a situation many are feeling - the anger, frustration and sadness over being unable to visit sick or older family members.

The outbreak has been spreading and killing mainly older people or those with a compromised immune system. In Seattle, there were 35 deaths at a single life care center nursing facility.

One local family whose mother, a 94-year-old Ipswich woman, is in and end-of-life care facility worries they won’t be able to spend what little time she has left with her.

Yvonne Moran is a WWII bride from Belgium who lost her husband Joe just a few years ago. Moran, who has six kids and two grandchildren, is currently living in a facility in Vermont while her daughter, Melissa Cuevas, lives in Ipswich.

Talking on the phone is the only means of communication for Cuevas and her mother, who used to live together until Moran fell down one day - she’s been in the facility ever since, where she is cared for around the clock by the facility’s staff.

“We miss her dearly and are sorry this happened," said Cuevas. “I’m sure she would be doing more things with her family if it wasn’t for what’s going on.”

While Moran’s son is looking after his mother at the facility in Vermont, the family is hoping a nurse or staff member can help them out and show Moran how to use Facetime. While the ideal situation would be for the family to see her in person, they acknowledge it might not be realistic right now.

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