They're sealed away, so they can be out of sight, out of mind. In the meantime, even my colleagues don't seem to want to collect stats on how isolated nursing home residents have become.
As someone who also works with the elderly but not in a LTC setting (I’m an audiologist in a physician’s office) I also see this as abuse and nobody talking about it. I think it’s a way of getting rid of these people (soooo sad!) that our society in general see as such a burden. What exactly is the CDC/NIH etc protecting these people from??!! Death? The average person staying in LTC for 2-21/2 years. Shouldn’t they be the BEST 2 years of a person’s life? Often family will place the elderly in these facilities NOT because they don’t love them and cherish them, but because caring for them has become difficult and our society (as a whole) offers little support. Being away from family (and friends) should be considered abuse. I think it’s reasonable for protect the staff (who will care for these people if the staff becomes ill?) but let the residents leave their lives, since they usually have such a short time left. Let them do what they love and be with people who love them.
My grandmother whom I loved dearly died alone in May 2020 because of these policies. I thank God that she had a wonderful nurse/caregiver who communicated with us. What I would t give to hold her hand once again.
What about creating a survey in survey monkey and sending it around? Share from here, share on Twitter, on Facebook. Send the link to state dept of health. You wouldn't have to do all of this - your readers could distribute. Maybe even reach out to Jeff Childers (coffee and covid) - he has a big following.
My mother was fortunate. She died in 2015 and she didn't have to go through this stuff. She was a resident of a good nursing home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. I used to give them money but when I learned that they were giving out the Covid shots, I stopped. From what I read, they didn't give the shots if a family member objected. But they kept talking about the shots and showing photos of people being vaccinated. I was so disgusted. I don't know if they are allowing communal meals again because I just haven't felt like checking.
I feel heard lol! Consultant that goes into multiple LTC, ALF's. Red state in Midwest. For most part-visitors are now unrestricted other than asked to wear a mask (workers are shoved into N95, visitor surgical cuz THAT makes sense). Allowed close contact. Residents have mostly resumed outings-if "up to date" with vax then don't have to quarantine upon return (at least THIS is an improvement).
HOWEVER-regardless of vax/immune status OR symptoms if we are in "outbreak" status (Defined by CMS as >/= 1 person with positive test. So residents are still randomly tossed into isolations because CMS has lax guidelines ONLY for those "up to date" with vax (the recomendations are EXTREMELY confusing and contradicting and make NO SENSE in practical use). UTD=however many boosters the DRUG COMPANIES recommend because we all know CDC is doing Pfizer bidding!!!!!
CMS states NH cannot restrict visitation so if any homes are doing that its time for a complaint call to state.
Mostly back to group activities unless in "outbreak" status-which effectively means they've gotten MAYBE 6 weeks scattered throughout year of activities. But hey-they can say they tried!!
I have personally witnessed decline in cognition, weight loss, increased falls/fraility with all this isolation BS. 2 stories-both in same LTC: 2 gentleman who were best of friends, love to hang out in hallway and DR joking with staff, visitors, other residents-they were truly delightful. Survived that first horrible alpha wave. Got vaxed (unclear on booster status-don't remember). Anyway I was locked out for almost a year during 2020-21-when I got back into facility both looked like they had shrunk. got almost back to normal except masks after vax-then wave after wave (mostly ASYMPTOMATIC) happened, returns to isolation, yanking of group activities etc-rinse and repeat. Both have passed on now-one who willed himself to die, refused to eat as he was "done". His friend also passed shortly after due to severe depression-just gave up. Both DEAD from COVID POLICIES but NOT covid.
2nd story-person with developmental challenges, older adult mostly non verbal but would ambulate around facility, gorgeous hair (natural brown color in 2020), loved to grab your hand and walk with you, fed herself etc. 2 years later: confined to wheelchair, needs assist with feeding, hair all gray, looks like a shell of former self. AGain this happened due to COVID POLICIES not COVID.
I have so many stories....
The survey needs to include how many falls happen in "isolation/quarantine" area vs 2019. Seems falls are skyrocketing up.
Some of my residents are starting to rebel on being put into isolation when they feel FINE. Wonder what would happen if families/residents banded together to SUE CMS for their inhumane policies? WEight loss is RAMPANT again because no symptom residents are again shut down, alone, taken to quarantine ward and they are DONE. many just giving up as they see no end out.
We were actually talking about this last week - a dear friend's dad was ill and passed away just before all the lockdowns. She said she would have pulled him out of the "home" and taken care of him at her home, no matter what it took. I said I would have gone full on storm the battlements to get my parents out of one of these locked down situations and we all agreed that we would have done the same. I just cannot fathom people allowing their parents, grandparents, to be treated like this. It infuriates me.
I can tell you what I know about my grandmother's nursing home in Slovenia. She is about 95 years old and her mental acuity is declining. She needs help getting out of bed, getting her diapers changed, she needs to be moved around in a wheelchair, sometimes she needs physical assistance with her bowel movements. She's no longer always "all there," so she often fights the nurses.
My relatives are able to visit her on a regular basis, sometimes daily. They are able to take her out for a walk, for excursions, or to have a meal at a local eatery. The ability to make these visits is a blessing.
She does have to be fully vaccinated to be in the nursing home. She is now boosted, and the vaccines could be contributing to her decline. But her independence has been going downhill for a decade, so it's hard to say it would not be happening anyway. Given how long she has tenaciously stuck to life, I wouldn't be too surprised if she even outlives her (vaccinated) children.
I question what's going to happen this fall and winter, when all of Europe is likely to experience a self-made economic, food and health disaster, probably culminating in a systemic collapse. When people are unable to meet basic needs, there will be scarce resources for elderly like my grandma. For now, I'm glad she can have visits and enjoy nice moments, for as long as this remains possible.
As someone who also works with the elderly but not in a LTC setting (I’m an audiologist in a physician’s office) I also see this as abuse and nobody talking about it. I think it’s a way of getting rid of these people (soooo sad!) that our society in general see as such a burden. What exactly is the CDC/NIH etc protecting these people from??!! Death? The average person staying in LTC for 2-21/2 years. Shouldn’t they be the BEST 2 years of a person’s life? Often family will place the elderly in these facilities NOT because they don’t love them and cherish them, but because caring for them has become difficult and our society (as a whole) offers little support. Being away from family (and friends) should be considered abuse. I think it’s reasonable for protect the staff (who will care for these people if the staff becomes ill?) but let the residents leave their lives, since they usually have such a short time left. Let them do what they love and be with people who love them.
My grandmother whom I loved dearly died alone in May 2020 because of these policies. I thank God that she had a wonderful nurse/caregiver who communicated with us. What I would t give to hold her hand once again.
What about creating a survey in survey monkey and sending it around? Share from here, share on Twitter, on Facebook. Send the link to state dept of health. You wouldn't have to do all of this - your readers could distribute. Maybe even reach out to Jeff Childers (coffee and covid) - he has a big following.
This is SO depressing! God is going to punish us! Thank you for caring......
My mother was fortunate. She died in 2015 and she didn't have to go through this stuff. She was a resident of a good nursing home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. I used to give them money but when I learned that they were giving out the Covid shots, I stopped. From what I read, they didn't give the shots if a family member objected. But they kept talking about the shots and showing photos of people being vaccinated. I was so disgusted. I don't know if they are allowing communal meals again because I just haven't felt like checking.
I feel heard lol! Consultant that goes into multiple LTC, ALF's. Red state in Midwest. For most part-visitors are now unrestricted other than asked to wear a mask (workers are shoved into N95, visitor surgical cuz THAT makes sense). Allowed close contact. Residents have mostly resumed outings-if "up to date" with vax then don't have to quarantine upon return (at least THIS is an improvement).
HOWEVER-regardless of vax/immune status OR symptoms if we are in "outbreak" status (Defined by CMS as >/= 1 person with positive test. So residents are still randomly tossed into isolations because CMS has lax guidelines ONLY for those "up to date" with vax (the recomendations are EXTREMELY confusing and contradicting and make NO SENSE in practical use). UTD=however many boosters the DRUG COMPANIES recommend because we all know CDC is doing Pfizer bidding!!!!!
CMS states NH cannot restrict visitation so if any homes are doing that its time for a complaint call to state.
Mostly back to group activities unless in "outbreak" status-which effectively means they've gotten MAYBE 6 weeks scattered throughout year of activities. But hey-they can say they tried!!
I have personally witnessed decline in cognition, weight loss, increased falls/fraility with all this isolation BS. 2 stories-both in same LTC: 2 gentleman who were best of friends, love to hang out in hallway and DR joking with staff, visitors, other residents-they were truly delightful. Survived that first horrible alpha wave. Got vaxed (unclear on booster status-don't remember). Anyway I was locked out for almost a year during 2020-21-when I got back into facility both looked like they had shrunk. got almost back to normal except masks after vax-then wave after wave (mostly ASYMPTOMATIC) happened, returns to isolation, yanking of group activities etc-rinse and repeat. Both have passed on now-one who willed himself to die, refused to eat as he was "done". His friend also passed shortly after due to severe depression-just gave up. Both DEAD from COVID POLICIES but NOT covid.
2nd story-person with developmental challenges, older adult mostly non verbal but would ambulate around facility, gorgeous hair (natural brown color in 2020), loved to grab your hand and walk with you, fed herself etc. 2 years later: confined to wheelchair, needs assist with feeding, hair all gray, looks like a shell of former self. AGain this happened due to COVID POLICIES not COVID.
I have so many stories....
The survey needs to include how many falls happen in "isolation/quarantine" area vs 2019. Seems falls are skyrocketing up.
Some of my residents are starting to rebel on being put into isolation when they feel FINE. Wonder what would happen if families/residents banded together to SUE CMS for their inhumane policies? WEight loss is RAMPANT again because no symptom residents are again shut down, alone, taken to quarantine ward and they are DONE. many just giving up as they see no end out.
We were actually talking about this last week - a dear friend's dad was ill and passed away just before all the lockdowns. She said she would have pulled him out of the "home" and taken care of him at her home, no matter what it took. I said I would have gone full on storm the battlements to get my parents out of one of these locked down situations and we all agreed that we would have done the same. I just cannot fathom people allowing their parents, grandparents, to be treated like this. It infuriates me.
I can tell you what I know about my grandmother's nursing home in Slovenia. She is about 95 years old and her mental acuity is declining. She needs help getting out of bed, getting her diapers changed, she needs to be moved around in a wheelchair, sometimes she needs physical assistance with her bowel movements. She's no longer always "all there," so she often fights the nurses.
My relatives are able to visit her on a regular basis, sometimes daily. They are able to take her out for a walk, for excursions, or to have a meal at a local eatery. The ability to make these visits is a blessing.
She does have to be fully vaccinated to be in the nursing home. She is now boosted, and the vaccines could be contributing to her decline. But her independence has been going downhill for a decade, so it's hard to say it would not be happening anyway. Given how long she has tenaciously stuck to life, I wouldn't be too surprised if she even outlives her (vaccinated) children.
I question what's going to happen this fall and winter, when all of Europe is likely to experience a self-made economic, food and health disaster, probably culminating in a systemic collapse. When people are unable to meet basic needs, there will be scarce resources for elderly like my grandma. For now, I'm glad she can have visits and enjoy nice moments, for as long as this remains possible.