Nursing Homes and Nursing Home Workers (Dylan Muntter)
Fact Check Source:
Peplinski Group, "COVID-19 UPDATE 3/30/20"
On 3/30/30, the Peplinski Group, in charge of state funded nursing home Ely Manor, sent this letter to the guardians of those residents in their care. It stated the precaustions they will be taking in attempt to avoid the spread of COVID-19 into the home, along with what will be done if it does spread into the home.
Looking Deeper: Five Facts Checked
This is an important fact because it shows that everyone needs to do their part as no one is safe. This article by Vox proves that anyone can be infected.This virus does not discriminate. It is afffecting young and old, male and female.
This is important as if nurses are taught what to do in this situation, that can help their understanding of the severity of the situation. This article by Kaiser Permanente confirms the fact.Nurses train for these types of scenarios in nursing school, nursing assistants train for this is nurse aid school, and we, as healthcare providers, educate our team members in all departments as to key infection control and other policies on a regular basis.
This facts matter as it need to be determined if this is the best plan of action to treat someone who tests positive. This article by the Harvard Medical School confirms isolation is the best plan of action.If a patient or resident tests positive for COVID-19, that individual will remain in the isolation area of the facility the entire time they are being treated for COVID-19.
This fact is important because it shows the privacy residents in nursing homes are allowed. This fact is confirmed here.Due to state and federal privacy regulations applicable to patient medical information, we will not be able to communicate with anyone that is not listed as the patient representative.
This fact matters to me because it shows that they will be respecting people privacy, along with continuing to offer inspiration. This is confirmed by the Ely Manor Facebook page.We will continue to use Facebook to share inspirational and upliftting stories taking place in our facilities. However, we will not be using Facebook to communicate updates on specific COVID-19 developments, nor will we be responding to posts asking questions or making comments about COVID-19.
Analytic Essay
Disregarded: How Nursing Homes and their Workers are Affected by COVID-19
One of the most overlooked perspectives in the COVID-19 pandemic is nursing homes and nursing home workers. It is well-known that elder populations are more at risk for contracting and dying from the virus, so nursing homes can and have become epicenters for the virus up to this point during the pandemic. This places nursing homes and their workers in a very difficult situation as they need to provide care to their residents while also trying to maintain all the safety standards being set in place. It also cannot be forgotten that the personal lives of many direct care workers can be ruined by this virus if residents or other workers in their home contract the virus. The viewpoint of direct care workers in this pandemic has been mostly in a bad light as news of outbreaks in nursing homes has lead to conversations about proper precautions taken in those homes to ensure the safety of the residents. However, it is not as easy as it may seem to someone on the outside as being able to balance protecting and caring for the residents is very difficult.
When asked what nursing home workers value the most in terms of providing the care they talked about the happiness, cleanliness, and comfort of their residents (Chung, 2013). They strive to make their resident’s lives as easy as they can by providing them with the best possible care. Those that nursing homes intend to inform are either the residents living in their homes, along with the families of the residents, and staff.
They reach these parties through letters sent via mail, as my family has received multiple updates about the COVID-19 from my grandmother’s nursing home. The letter detailed the best health practices as well as precautions they have taken to avoid the spread of the virus into their facilities. In addition, the letter also addressed what steps would be taken in case the virus were to spread into the home (Peplinski Group, 2020).
The facts of this pandemic matter to everyone affected by it, especially nursing home workers. Of the list of facts to address concerns, the first that many workers have is their safety along with the availability of PPE. The ability to obtain more PPE in many homes has become increasingly difficult due to the pandemic, which leads to more concerns (Cott, 2020). This lack of PPE has led to an increased chance of being infected by the virus which means the nursing home workers cannot go to work. However, most nursing home workers cannot afford to miss work as they work week to week due to such low pay. Workers want to know what will be done to help them financially at this time, both in terms of pay and unemployment (Waltmire, 2020).
A care worker’s place in this epidemic is very underappreciated and they play an extremely important role in society. Their skills of caring for the elderly and keeping them happy, clean, and comfortable are only able to be practiced through direct contact with the residents in their homes. Without the care they provide, much of the elder population would struggle to survive, being forced to live with family members who don’t have the training to take care of them.
The care workers are mainly concerned with how the nursing homes, along with state and national guidelines will change how they go about their jobs. It is very hard to care for their residents with the guidelines put in place even if those guidelines are to keep the residents safe (Waltmire, 2020). Taking away all the other care that they provide can also be detrimental to the health and happiness of those living in the homes.
Nursing homes have to trust the state as they determine what they do going forward, however, they do not trust that they will make the right decision. They tell the workers to stay home from work if they feel sick, but don’t offer a way for the workers to feed their families when they do miss work, which leads to the workers continuing to work, even when ill (Cott, 2020).
This leads directly to why this perspective needs to be included on the website, as it covers one of the least talked about, but the most important perspective of the virus pandemic. Nursing homes have been ground zero for the virus in many states, giving a bad rap to nursing homes in general during this time. Many nursing homes, however, are still virus-free or making attempts to counteract the virus as to limit the spread and keep their residents safe.