Protecting Our Kupuna By Jacob Mauer, Administrator, Hale Kupuna Heritage Home It has been over 16 months since COVID-19 changed all our lives forever. Those serving on the frontline in nursing homes have remained, for the most part, in the shadows. But they, too, have put their lives at risk to protect the most vulnerable—people, who often become like family. They have become lifelines for residents and their loved ones, offering comfort and connection at a time marred by crisis, fear and death.
Nursing home residents makeup 0.62% of the total US population and have represented over 22% of all deaths in the US during the pandemic. Long-term care facilities claiming 132,608 of the country’s COVID deaths and 655,110 residents have been infected with the virus according to CMS data through 5/30/2021. We are so very fortunate that Hale Kupuna Heritage Home has kept our residents safe from COVID-19. This is due to the hard work of our nurses, nursing assistants, activities staff, housekeeping staff, maintenance associates, dietary staff, rehab team and all our administrative team. Words cannot describe how grateful our residents, family and community are for the team effort put forth to successfully protect our island’s most vulnerable population.
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All staff were more than willingly to 100% abide by all of the strict rules on screening, sanitation, adherence to infection control protocol and proper wearing of PPE. Many days were spent wearing uncomfortable face masks, face shields, sanitizing hands hundreds of times a day and conducting unpleasant COVID-19 tests. Everyone did it and they did it to protect our residents. We are so very thankful for their sacrifice,
