The respiratory illness Covid-19 poses a higher risk to the elderly and those who have preexisting health conditions. Residents in nursing homes are a vulnerable population indeed, and the CDC is recommending a number of strategies to combat community spread to protect our loved ones living in these facilities:
- Rapid detection and management of residents who may have been exposed or are suffering from Covid-19 to protect all residents
- Considerations for visitors and consultant staff to reduce unnecessary contacts which could expose staff and/or residents to the virus
- Ensuring adequate supplies and resources on hand such as PPE to protect residents from exposure and additional staff
- Educating and training staff on prevention and safety measures
- Enacting sick leave policies including self-quarantine for staff that may have been exposed to Covid-19 to ensure the continued safety of nursing home staff and residents
- Surge capacity provisions in place
The CDC has designed the preparedness checklist for nursing homes and other long term health facilities to protect nursing home staff and the vulnerable populations under their care. Failure to adopt steps to develop and execute comprehensive Covid-19 response plans has real consequences for elderly residents in nursing homes across the country.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities must provide high standards of care, cleanliness, and safety throughout their facilities. When they fail to provide proper care, avoidable injuries and death occur. Iowa Nursing Home attorney Marc A. Humphrey will work with you to hold Iowa nursing homes or residential care facilities accountable for negligence. Contact our office as soon as possible to determine what we can do to help you at 515-331-3510.
