As you probably already know, senior care facilities have been hit unduly hard by the COVID-19 crisis. In some cases, this is through no fault of their own. In other cases, it is because the facilities were not taking proper precautions and unjustly exposed their residents to risk. Which care homes fit into which category is not the topic of discussion on this blog–this is something that is up to the governmental officials and authorities in the communities that have been negatively impacted. However, it is worth pointing out what some of the mistakes that have been made are, if only to help others from making those same mistakes.
Looking at the states that have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus can help us to see these mistakes–along with the victories over the disease that have been achieved. New York, Florida, and even California have all seen nursing home and assisted living facility challenges.
Furthermore, it’s important to point out that many senior care facilities are struggling financially right now. The senior care industry has struggled in some parts of the country because of the high cost of providing this service. Now, add in extra costs to help keep residents safe, plus a growing reluctance to have new residents placed because of the fear of spreading COVID-19, and you can see why many hard-strapped nursing homes or assisted living facilities are now faced with some really difficult decisions. Some homes have already gone under, much to the detriment of former residents and their families. Finding ways to protect the people that are impacted in such a way is a must if we are going to continue to give the senior citizens in our lives the best care that they can get.
We are all in this together. Yes, that’s been said a lot lately, and it isn’t always positively viewed as some of the people that are saying it are clearly not struggling in the same way that others are. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from our mistakes.
Government interventions are not preferred. No one likes having liberties taken away. However, in times of emergency, they can be helpful for keeping people safe. We’ve seen some of these measures succeed, and others fail miserably. The past is past and cannot be changed, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t learn from it. By looking at the interventions that have worked when it comes to nursing home safety regulations, we can take strides toward improving how these facilities operate in the future. And by looking at what has not worked, we can do the same. As the number of seniors in our country grows, knowing what the best things that we can do for their safety and health is important. This time of crisis has helped to expose some of the areas that need the most improvement.
In the meantime, we are here to help. Whether you’re looking for an in-home care provider for an elderly loved one or you are just looking for direction when it comes to the senior care search, we can help. Give us a call or shoot over an email to get started.
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