As some retirement homes and nursing homes around the country are struck by COVID-19, others take precautions against the coronavirus to protect the elders, who are most vulnerable. Additionally, old age homes have residents with underlying medical conditions, placing them at a higher risk of being affected by the disease. Fortunately, most of San Mateo’s facilities have zero cases and intend to maintain this low rate by thoroughly caring for their community’s seniors.
For example, Carlmont Gardens Nursing Home in Belmont receives incoming regulatory information from the Health Care Association along with regulators from the federal, state, and county levels. Carlmont Gardens learns from other facilities that have had active cases, and implement those policies at their nursing home.
Instead of allowing family members into the building, Carlmont Gardens set up alternative solutions for visitation, such as FaceTime and Skype. Those who do enter the building have to go through a screening check and are asked a series of questions related to COVID-19.
Group activities, which used to be 25 seniors together, are now also canceled. Instead, residents receive more one-on-one attention from the staff, or they stay in the activity room four to five at a time.
“The fact that we … can’t commingle them right now is different for [the elderly],” said Carlmont Gardens’ Administrator Sharolyn Kriger. “We do a lot of one-on-one reassurance. I send out a family letter every couple of weeks and give [family members] an update. I’ve had many family members thank me for doing that. I think they [know] we’re trying hard to keep their loved ones safe.”
An event that occurred recently at Carlmont Gardens warmed Kriger’s heart. On May 2, she saw an old lady, who was supposed to be in her room, wheeling her wheelchair in the hallways.
“I noticed she looked tearful,” Kriger said. “She had a plastic bag with … pajamas and slippers [inside]. She said, ‘I’m so lonely [and] I just thought I’d go home and spend the night with [my family]. Then I’ll come back.’”
Kriger immediately called the family members and within 20 minutes, eight adults, four teenagers, three children and two dogs arrived at the window. They each took turns calling her on the phone.
“It was amazing,” Kriger said. “I called the family afterward and I thanked them. I said, ‘you guys just turned it around for her.’ That made my day.”
Carlmont Gardens has bought an adequate amount of personal protective equipment, around 1000 gloves and 100 N95 masks, for their staff, some who have to be in the nursing home around the clock. They also submit two surveys daily from regulatory agencies, asking if they have enough supplies and staff.
“One of the interesting wrinkles with the COVID-19 extravaganza is that we’ve had many people from the community call and ask if we’re accepting donations of PPE equipment,” Kriger said. Many people in the community have made homemade masks [for us], and it’s very touching that people are trying to help.”
Carlmont Gardens Nursing Home also organizes daily community cleanup activities to ensure that their nursing home is sanitized and safe. The staff uses a cloth soaked in bleach to wipe high touch areas, such as elevator buttons, door handles and remote controls.
“I think a good feeling and positive energy sort of builds from person to person,” Kriger said. “We thought people were going to feel like it was a real chore, but instead it turned out to really sort of a fun group activity. I also think it sends an important message to each other and to the residents that we’re serious about this. We’re serious enough to do this every day because it’s that important.”
Voralto at Belmont nursing home implemented similar policies as Carlmont Gardens Nursing Home as early as before the shelter in place orders. They restrict in-person visitations, take temperatures of those who do need to enter the building, provide masks to all staff and residents and cancel group activities.
“[Residents] can see their loved ones [through Facetime],” said Voralto at Belmont’s resident liaison Robert Puccinelli. “We also open the front door for family members to come up, but we keep them 10 [to] 12 feet apart. Someone turned 99 yesterday, and family members sang Happy Birthday to her outside the front door.”
Both assisted living facilities have not reported any coronavirus cases. They are ensuring that they practice rigid social distancing while still keeping the elderly entertained.
“Seniors have the biggest risk with this pandemic,” said senior Nick Garibaldi. “If we don’t put significance on their well being, then it’s going to have consequences.”
It is unsure when retirement homes and nursing homes are able to loosen their policies and return back to normal. However, despite these stressful times, people continue to find ways to spread love and care to their community’s elders.
