What Made Nursing Houses Susceptible to Coronavirus – New York Property Planning Lawyer Weblog – Apr 29, 2021

Older people are at increased risk of being affected by Covid-19. Another group that is severely affected by Covid-19 are people with conditions such as respiratory diseases and kidney disease. Both population groups make up a large number of nursing home residents in this country.

Unfortunately, various factors in nursing homes can make the spread of the disease worse, including things like staff working in multiple facilities, frequent physical interaction between residents and staff, sharing of living quarters and lack of personal protective equipment, shortage of staff. These factors have resulted in nursing homes spreading various diseases and creating an undesirable environment during a pandemic. If your loved one lives in a nursing home, there are some important details you should understand about Covid-19 and what you can do to keep your loved one safe.

How nursing homes try to control the virus

Nursing home residents were among the first groups to be vaccinated when Covid-19 vaccines were administered in December 2020 and January 2021. Nursing homes have also tried to enforce strict health protocols that address masking and social distancing. At the beginning of the pandemic, nursing homes also restricted visits to limit the risk of exposure to the virus.

How Nursing Home Residents Get the Covid-19 Vaccine

At the start of Covid-19 vaccine administration, the federal government signed a contract with CVS and Walgreens to vaccinate residents and employees in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Regional pharmacy chains are also helping in some parts of New York. Almost all nursing homes will have closed their vaccination clinics by April 2021.

How nursing homes are regulated

Nursing homes are regulated by the federal government, especially the centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. State surveys conduct inspections of nursing homes to determine whether the centers comply with federal laws and standards regarding hygiene, records, and surveillance. Facilities must be classified as compliant in order to be certified and receive payments from Medicare and Medicaid.

Visiting loved ones in nursing homes

With nursing home vaccinations nearly complete and the death rate from Covid-19 in nursing homes dropping dramatically, it may be possible to visit your loved one. If you do decide to visit your loved one, the interaction will almost certainly be tightly controlled. Facilities often require advance planning, time limits to visit and health screening of visitors.

What to do if you have a complaint or concern about Covid-19?

You should speak to the nursing home first and learn as much about the situation as possible. If the facility does not respond, you should contact your state ombudsman who is committed to the safety and wellbeing of nursing home residents. If a problem persists, contact an experienced senior law attorney right away.

Talk to a knowledgeable senior law attorney

If your loved one who lives in a nursing home has been exposed to Covid-19 due to negligence and was later diagnosed, don’t hesitate to speak to a compassionate elderly law attorney. Contact Law firm Ettinger today to schedule a free case assessment.