What Nursing Homes Should Do To Combat COVID-19

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has swept the country in recent weeks, causing entire states to go into lockdown.While the virus poses a threat to everyone, there are certain groups of individuals who are more at risk of developing complications from the disease, including the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.

This is why it’s of the utmost importance for nursing home facilities to take the proper safety precautions to protect their residents’ health. We discuss some of these tactics below.

The Coronavirus Checklist for Nursing Homes

There are several measures that nursing home facilities should take to protect the health and well-being of their residents, including the following:

Develop a Plan

Create a dedicated team at the facility in charge of COVID-19 preparedness planning. This includes the distribution of educational and training materials.
Identify appropriate points of contact and distribute their contact information. This may include contacts from the local health department, the state health department, and more.

Organize Necessary Supplies

Facilities should have supplies of facemasks, respirators, gowns, gloves, and eye protection.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers should be placed in every resident’s room and in common areas.
Sinks should be well-stocked with soap and paper towels for hand washing.
Trash bins should be placed near the exit inside of the resident’s room to make it easy for staff to discard materials prior to exiting the room.

Identify Ill Residents

Facilities should have a process to identify and manage residents with symptoms of COVID-19, including a cough and fever.
A plan should be in place to notify the health department for clusters of respiratory infections or suspected COVID-19.

Is Your Relative Living in a Nursing Home During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

If one of your loved ones is living in a nursing home during the coronavirus pandemic and you suspect they are not receiving the care they need and deserve, contact us today.

At Brown & Barron, LLC, we’re well-versed in issues of nursing home abuse and neglect, and we know how to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Contact us today at (410) 698-1717 to schedule a free consultation.