Caring for Aging Loved Ones During the Covid-19 Pandemic The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the way we have traditionally done business on its head. Looking for skilled nursing, assisted living, in-home care or memory care for an aging loved one during these uncertain times is no exception.
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inding the appropriate care setting for a senior needing anything from acute rehabilitation to long-term placement is more important now than it ever has been. As Certified Senior Advisors, we have put together a list of common questions we continue to hear from seniors and their families during the pandemic – and the answers we believe to be the most accurate, up-to-date and safest for you and your loved ones. How prevalent is COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)? A. California is home to 1,223 Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs); as of 8/4/2020, there have been 19,772 positive cases of Covid-19 in residents and 3,381 Covid-19 related resident deaths – a 17% death rate among those testing positive. https://www. cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/ DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/SNFsCOVID-19.aspx How prevalent is COVID-19 in Assisted Living (AL) and Memory Care (MC)? A. While the prevalence of Covid-19 in assisted living and memory care is difficult to calcu-
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late in granularity (due to the <11 number used to report incidence in Residential Care Facilites for the Elderly [RCFE], a requirement to protect one’s identity), a cumulative estimate is 6,305 residents and staff tested positive for Covid-19 with 689 resulting in death – a 11% death rate. These numbers are according to the California Department of Social Services as of 8/3/2020. Active cases of Covid-19 reported in California in Assisted Living and Memory Care as of 8/3/2020 is 2,475 residents and staff – in San Diego County, for example, 63 staff members have tested positive while 29 residents are positive for the virus in the AL/ MC setting. https://www.cdss. ca.gov/Portals/9/Additional-Resources/Research-and-Data/ DSSDS/RCFE-8-3.pdf Should I place my loved one in Assisted Living or Memory Care during COVID? A. That depends. There are many factors that go into this decision and each family’s situation is unique. Your Certified Senior Advisor should take a “one size fits one” approach to you and your loved one’s care needs, budgetary considerations, and geographic preferences.
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CarePatrol continues to keep strict tabs on which RCFEs have active cases of Covid-19, who is admitting new residents and their protocols for admission, and each RCFE’s care violation history with the state of California Social Services department. What are these places doing to stop the spread of the virus? A. Many of the RCFEs in California, both large and small, were not taking any new admissions during the height of the pandemic. As more and more RCFEs begin to open their doors again to new residents, they are doing so cautiously. Many are requiring negative Covid-19 tests from the hospital, SNF or the potential resident’s primary care physician (PCP) before they will allow a move-in. Some are requiring new residents to use provided furniture until such time that it is safe to bring in the resident’s own furniture (disinfected by the home or community much of the time). Residents are practicing social distancing and other precautions outlined by the state of California, the CDC and the WHO. Many regularly scheduled activities have taken on a virtual nature or have been put on hold
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for a future date when it has been deemed safe by the local, state and federal entities. What are my options if I want to take mom/dad home? Taking mom or dad home after a hospital or SNF stay may seem like the safest option at this time. Again, each situation is different and the care needs of each senior unique. Does mom or dad have 24-hour care needs? Can they take care of their own Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as showering, grooming, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and running errands? Does mom or dad have dementia and prone to wandering? If so, is the house/ property equipped to keep mom or dad safe (pool enclosures are fenced, ponds or water structures are fenced, doors and windows have wireless monitoring)? How many stairs will they have to navigate at home? In-home care can be one possible option if home conditions are safe and manageable. In-home care is non-medical care that can help seniors with ADLs and is paid for privately (Medicare/Medicaid does not pay for this service). Average cost for in-home care in San Diego is between $28 and
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