An explanation on the advanced steps that our senior living places are taking.
“Maddie Lang” is the daughter of resident “Doris” and along with her two sisters have been caring for their 85-year-old mother, who has lived with dementia for about a decade. Since Doris moved in a year ago, at least one of them visits her daily at the memory care facility. Before her mom moved in, Lang said her mom suffered from depression and her daughters were concerned about her mental health.
“My mom was pretty near wanting to die a year ago, having lived in a very closed environment and not living close to her family,” Lang said. “It’s as if we just got our mother back, and it’s tragic that something like this could potentially be detrimental to her mentally when she’s made such a turnaround in just a year.”
Dementia can certainly be escalated through isolation, and having a community where care is available 24/7 is a huge part of why Mom’s depression is doing better, and that’s the good news! Mary shared, “I understand the COVID-19 safeguards are important, but I do worry about the residents in these facilities not having their family members near… It’s heartbreaking that we can’t see our mom right now.”
In several conversations I have had lately with senior living experts, there is one theme that is frequently told to me. “I spend a portion of my day explaining to families why they can’t visit.”
On one hand, we are thrilled that there are families out there who care enough about their loved ones to feel passionately about connecting. Lord knows, Answers for Elders is one of the strongest advocates to change the paradigm on the statistics of abandoned seniors, and yet, we are now facing a unique time. One that presents numerous risks, especially to our senior loved ones. Here are some answers to your questions:
“Why can’t I visit if I wear a mask?”
A mask is only part of the protection. Upon entering, are your garments, your shoes, your jewelry, etc., sterilized before you enter? What about your touching doorknobs, handrails, etc? The point is, your body could potentially provide high risk to one resident, who in turn, could be the catalyst to infecting the entire community.
In addition, if that mask ever comes off or is moved and your breath enters the community, chances are if you have the virus, it will get into the environment.
“Mom has a doctor appointment next week. Why does she have to be quarantined afterward?”
The reason why Mom will need to be quarantined is because of her exposure to the outside. It’s impossible not to have her be exposed to literally hundreds of thousands of individuals through her breathing air, touching surfaces that have been touched by many, and also, being in an environment where sick people gather.
“Can’t we bring Dad outside for a walk?”
Again, same situation applies. Dad would be exposed to outside surfaces and you would likely not be socially distancing with him. Dad needs to stay in “the bubble” until the risk is diminished.
The good news is that likely the facility in which your loved ones live in, checks and screens their staff, many times per week.
Senior Living Facilities like where Doris lives, understands fully, that Social isolation is a common health issue among older adults. It is in a senior livings’ best interest to get families reunited with their love ones, but right now the risks are just too high. There are still significant fears of coronavirus ravaging this most vulnerable population. That’s why they are canceling events and prohibiting visits from family members to keep their populations safe and comply with COVID-19 orders.
Earlier this week I spoke with Angelia Brigance, Executive Director of Harbour Pointe Senior Living in Mukilteo (where I live) about what they are doing. “We call it Glass Time”, she said. She went on to describe to me that she has set up areas where family members and their senior loved ones can sit across from each other. Family member on the outside, and they speak to their loved ones on the phone through a glass window.
Harbour Pointe’s staff also is doing what they can to keep residents connected with their families “They’re helping with phone call visits and have ordered tablets so residents can talk to loved ones through video chats.” Even over Mother’s Day, Brigance told us that they arranged a “parade” of family members to drive through the parking lot to wave and say hello! Harbour Pointe’s staff are truly working with residents, one-on-one to keep them engaged and active.
To the families from those in senior living: “We don’t view ‘social distancing’ as meaning ‘no social interaction,” Brigance said. “We’re trying to do both to the best of our abilities, which is to continue to engage our residents creatively with our committed staff and virtual programming, while at the same time keeping them safe.”
We at Answers for Elders want to give a shout out to those incredible senior care providers who put their hearts out to keeping our loved ones safe at this time.
