More than a third of all deaths related to COVID-19 have occured in long-term care facilities — in part because the coronavirus is difficult to contain once it enters a congregate setting. Yet, many nursing homes continue appear to be blamed for many of these deaths.
Dr. Kevin Biese is an emergency medicine physician with an emphasis in geriatrics at the University of North Carolina. He says we should be careful about pointing the finger at long-term care facilities.
"The fact that certain skilled nursing facilities have gotten it doesn't necessarily mean that they've done anything wrong," he says.
Biese says facilities should be supported and not left to manage these outbreaks on their own.
"In these places that are often under-resourced, overstretched, with really challenging jobs, we again have got to be recognizing many of the heroes that work there, supporting them in that work and making sure that they have the equipment that they need."
Like personal protective equipment, for example. Many long-term care facilities have struggled to find personal protective equipment.And it's easy to burn through personal protective equipment when caring for a COVID-19 positive or COVID-19-questionable resident. Caregivers who work at the many long-term care facilities across Arizona are typically female, older, they earn minimum wage, and may not have access to health care or health insurance.
Another issue that will require collaboration is the impending flu season.
Flu season will be resuming in a few months, meaning long-term care facilities could be dealing with two viruses at the same time.
"It's difficult to say what exactly the combination of influenza and COVID is going to look like," he warns. "But, bad, it's going to look bad. And it's going to be really hard on skilled nursing facilities. It doesn’t mean they did anything wrong.”
Biese says it's critical that hospitals and community leaders reach out to long-term care facilities and collaborate now to ensure they have the staff, resources and personal protective equipment should they need it later this year.
