Preparing for Covid-19 in Nursing Homes

 

Many of the COVID-19 cases in the United States occurred among older adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. Villa Healthcare founded by Mark Berger Chicago, acted fast to ensure its residents and team members had everything they needed to adapt to the changing times. Making our residents feel at home while keeping them safe is our top priority, stated Mark Berger, Chief Executive Officer at Villa Healthcare.

Actions to take

·         Strictly follow the establishment's infection prevention instructions.

·         Notify staff immediately if you feel ill.

·         Consult your caregivers about the steps they are taking in your nursing home or long-term care facility to protect you and your loved ones, including whether and how they limit visits.

A Message to Caregivers: If your loved one is unable to ask or communicate with facility staff, please help them take the actions recommended on this page by Mark Berger Chicago.

Symptoms

The symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe, and can sometimes lead to death. Symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.

In some cases, older adults and people of any age with underlying conditions may have symptoms that are not usually seen in other people, or fever or other symptoms may take longer to develop.

Febrile symptoms

The normal body temperature of older adults may be lower than that of younger adults. For this same reason, body temperatures that indicate fever may be lower in older adults.

If you are an older adult with a fever or other symptoms and want to be tested, call your healthcare provider first. You can also visit your state or local health department website or external site icon to view the most up-to-date local information about screening tests.

If you are caring for a patient 65 years of age or older, be aware that a single temperature measurement of 100ºF (37.8ºC), several measurements above 99ºF (37.2ºC), or an increase in temperature greater than 2 ºF (1.1 ºC) relative to the patient's normal (reference) temperature could be a sign of infection.

Why you might be at greater risk

The community-based nature of nursing homes and long-term care facilities, as well as their population (typically older adults, who also tend to have underlying conditions), increase the risk of infection and severe COVID-19 in people living in these establishments.

If you are a healthcare provider

If you are a healthcare provider in a nursing home or long-term care facility, remember to take extra steps to protect yourself and the older adults in your care. Viral testing for SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes COVID-19, is an important addition to other infection prevention and control practices.

It is now more important than ever to get a flu vaccine during the 2020-2021 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Getting a flu shot is particularly important for adults 65 years of age and older, who account for the majority of hospitalizations and deaths from flu and COVID-19.

How to Evaluate Housing Options for Your Aging Loved One

As your loved ones age, it is sometimes necessary to consider other options than living alone or in the family home. They can resist the idea of moving and stop being independent, but in the long run, only they can make that decision. Fortunately, there are many options. Help them understand each one. In this article, Mark Berger Chicago, owner of Villa Heathcare, shares his tips for you to make the best possible decision.

Living with the family: Moving with family members, whether in their home or in an adjoining apartment or independently located on the same land, may be a good option for some older adults. Some families choose to do the opposite; the caregiver (and in some cases, their families) moves into the loved one's home to provide care.

Sharing a home: Another option for older adults is to share a house or apartment. Generally, they will have separate bedrooms (and possibly their own bathroom), but they share the kitchen and other living areas; they also share household chores. Sometimes older homeowners who prefer not to live alone or who need income, rent rooms to other older adults. Also, the owner may decide to share the home in exchange for help with cooking, cleaning, and other chores. Some community or religious groups subsidize large homes shared by multiple people.

The Growing Need for Health Care for the Elderly

Providing long-term care for an increasing number of elderly, in conditions of increased life expectancy, not only in good health but also in people with disability, is certainly one of the issues our country will have to deal with in the context of an increasingly aging population and changed family models.

American lifespans have increased exponentially over the past century, and with people living longer lives and elderly populations growing at a more rapid pace, finding ways to provide quality healthcare for these individuals is going to become all the more important. According to healthcare executive and nursing home manager Mark Berger Chicago, founder and CEO of Villa Healthcare, a premier provider of high caliber rehabilitation nursing care, the healthcare industry is going to have to make a number of changes in order to care for the growing number of elderly patients.

Like many other countries, the US has faced serious demographic problems and challenges in recent decades. Declining populations, a continuing drop in fertility and an increasingly pronounced aging are the main demographic features in the early 21st century.

The negative consequences of such demographic trends are primarily expressed in the area of ​​population aging, which has reached a worrying scale. The aging process is first and foremost due to the low birth rate, which has been below the level required for simple population recovery since the mid-20th century.

Extending the median life expectancy has also affected the aging process, but to a lesser extent in developed countries. In particular, it should be noted that the increase of life expectancy in the past is more owed to the reduction of infant mortality than the extension of life expectancy of the elderly. Migration, mainly emigration, has also contributed less to aging. Population projections warn that the aging process will not only continue but will intensify as well as the aging population.

Long-term care service at Villa Healthcare is intended for seniors who are experiencing growing addiction to other people's care and assistance in daily life. Care at Villa Healthcare, managed by Mark Berger Chicago, is based on a professional and warm approach that gives customers the pleasure of a fulfilled life. Individualized care plans are tailored to meet the specific needs of the users, with the support of experienced and highly-skilled teams.

Finally, a warm and sociable atmosphere fosters friendly relations between users and significantly improves their quality of life. To learn more about the essential aspects of living in such facility, visit Mark Berger Chicago blog or contact him directly and request a free consultation regarding permanent placement.