Nursing home facility restricts visitors but I’m mom’s POA? Any thoughts?

The nursing home where my mother lives called me Wednesday with the same message. I am on board with this restriction. The last thing I want to do is bring in viruses that are potentially deadly, as this one is. I work at a hospital and the expectation of the very worst is being planned for. I think for the next several weeks, we need to respect the healthy distance that we should keep from the Vulnerable.

Im in the same situation. My mom is in a nursing home for rehabilitation. They have restricted all visitors now and I am not surprised as we are only 80 miles north of Kirkland. My mom however is very upset. I told her to stay in her room and continue with physical therapy and I will continue to call her and drop off her snacks. I can't imagine how you feel since your mom is non-verbal. All we can do is hope and pray that our loved ones will be cared for by the staff as if they were their own loved one. I dont have an answer for you and I'm sorry for that. I just wanted you to know I understand and you are not alone. ❤❤

If your Mom is in a Private Room, Let them know that she only communicates with you and you plan to continue to come daily and you will do whatever necessary like wear a gown, mask, wash hands and use hand sanitizer once you arrive.

If your mom isn't in a Private Room, then you wouldn't be able to visit.

You might think about taking her to your home or have them will her outside for visits.

I'd follow their protocol. They are trying to protect their residents. Certain risks are unavoidable, but, others can be reduced, like visitors.

NewNormal,
Maybe getting around the visiting restrictions are not a good idea, as I suggested. Even visiting professionals are going to be monitored or restricted in some ways.
I understand your concerns, but maybe there is another way.
I so very much wanted to support you though, and to be sure your Mom was safe and well-cared for.

Hoping any need for restricted visits will soon pass.

The nursing home here also told us yesterday that we could not visit. But, my sister looked up the health department guidelines just issued here for the coronavirus, and it appeared the nursing home went a step beyond their recommendations. She spoke to the supervisor over the nursing home administrator (after being refused entry by him) and shared the guidelines. They then said only one visitor can be with my mom at a time and we must stay in her room. And we cannot be symptomatic or have had exposure.

As I was typing this the supervisor called me and stated that the regulations have changed as of today and we are not able to visit. He is going to try and arrange Skype. I can still pick up and drop off her laundry at the door and pay her bills at the desk. He would not promise or decline the ability to see my mother through the front door occasionally. He understands we are upset.

We wish to visit, because my mother is totally dependent, is finally almost healed from a pressure sore to the foot (threat of amputation of leg if not healed), and because of the turnover...we cannot be assured that staff will position her correctly, put on her booties, apply the correct dressing to her foot, not turn off her pressure mattress inadvertently, turn her, put pillows to prevent skin breakdown between her knees (contracted) and remember not to leave her arthritic hand under her body when turned (very painful for her).

We are there 40 hrs a week, between the two of us, to put aright all the things that go wrong. Things have improved dramatically since she was admitted about a year ago. But, we still have instances where staff do not read the orders or the orders were not put in the computer or the orders are misinterpreted. We'll be damned her foot is going to square one because of this restriction. When I asked if he would promise that my mom's foot would not revert to a staged pressure sore...he would not promise. He would only say that they would do their very best. So, you can imagine how I feel. Will their very best be enough? It is very frightening, because the governor and officials do not realize that it is family that prevents death and suffering and loneliness, as well. I do understand all the pressures that the administrator is under. I know that the staff are worried for themselves and their families, too. These are very uncertain and upsetting times.

Drop off the daily snack supply 1-2 times per week, at the front door of the NH, with brief instructions.

Add some See's candy for the staff. It will be fun, and the rest of your time will be a respite for you.

These precautions are necessary to prevent the spread of many illnesses at this time.

This is not the first time facilities have restricted visitors. My aunt lived in an assisted living facility and during the 5 years she was there they went into lockdown and room restrictions at least 3 times just due to the flu.
These new restrictions protect our elderly and compromised health individuals. There is no vaccine or immunity to help protect these people. We have seen first hand in Washington state how deadly this virus is in the elderly.
You may or may not care if your loved one dies, but others do not feel that way. One sick person allowed into a facility could be the death sentence for many, not just your unloved one.

I am sorry, but just remember that is for the safety and health of your mom and the other residents.   Yes, I assume you can send stuff there, and the aids can explain that there is a moratorium on visiting.

Welp. I am going to say it. I think you should stay calm and enjoy the respite! Trust that the facility is taking care of your mom and be glad that they are being pro-active and doing what they can to prevent their residents from getting Sick. you visit your mother daily and have to feed her.....I say, enjoy the break. I know it’s hard to stop and turn off being a caregiver but you can do it! Enjoy the newfound time on your hands and indulge in self-care.

I for one am relieved that I have not opportunity to visit mthr at the moment! We have never had a lovey dovey relationship but the staff of the MC don't know her background of being a child and animal abuser. I visit to put in an appearance for the staff. Mthr is on hospice and down to 74 lbs; I've seen her more in the last 8 years than I wanted to. I am freed from scheduling a visit with the hospice nurse or go on a Saturday during our busy season. If my last visit was goodbye, so be it.

The NH where my Dad was admitted just yesterday, banned visitors today. No end date in sight. He doesn’t even have his clothes yet. They will meet us at the door to get them. No exceptions to the rule.

I work in a Memory Care home as a receptionist. As of today, I have to take each visitor's TEMPERATURE with a forehead thermometer before allowing them access to the resident's area! Never mind that the virus has a 14 day incubation period meaning we can all be carrying it and show no symptoms for 14 days! Never mind that we workers come and go on a daily basis, potentially bringing the illness into the community.

But the media insists on hyping this virus up to hysterical proportions and we're buying into it. As a result, we are demanding that our nursing facilities be hyper vigilant about taking precautions to save the lives of our elders. Then we're complaining that we can't visit our loved ones or that we're being asked to take extra precautions in order to do so?

We need to make up our minds............how do we want to treat this virus? Like a death sentence (which it isn't), or like just another virus that we may or may not get? We can either live in fear and drive ourselves crazy with worry, or we can live our lives and let the chips fall where they may. We can stock up on toilet paper and have enough to last us till 2030, or we can calm down and recognize that toilet paper isn't a necessity AT ALL. Even if we ran out, there is still soap and water available to use.........unless we collectively decide to buy up all the soap on the shelves as well.

I work in the health care industry and my mother lives in a Memory Care home as well. I went to visit her yesterday & everyone there is fine. My daughter is an RN at a hospital and she's doing fine; not being eaten alive by worry either.

There are 12 cases of this virus in Colorado and 5.7 million people live here.

Let's keep this all in perspective, folks. Taking precautions is good. Going overboard isn't. That's my 2 cents

Many people with loved ones in nursing homes have complained that the nursing homes aren't doing anything to protect the residents. Nursing homes do not usually carry the same protective equipment that hospitals do and even hospitals are running low and are asking visitors to stay away. Most nursing homes have little else to protect their residents with than banning visitors.

This is not about you but rather the residents. Call the nursing supervisor and make sure they know your routine for feeding your mother. I'd also ask if any of the staff have called out sick. Perhaps if staff have called out sick, the nursing supervisor will consider allowing you to volunteer your time to help your mother and other residents eat and wash their hands.

Please be mindful of the fact that the CDC does not yet know how COVID spreads. As of this morning: "The virus that causes COVID-19 seems to be spreading easily and sustainably in the community".

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/healthcare-facilities/prevent-spread-in-long-term-care-facilities.html

Strategies to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF)

A new respiratory disease – coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – is spreading globally and there have been instances of COVID-19 community spread in the United States. The general strategies CDC recommends to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in LTCF are the same strategies these facilities use every day to detect and prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza.
Long-term care facilities concerned that a resident, visitor, or employee may be a COVID-2019 patient under investigation should contact their local or state health department immediately for consultation and guidance.
Prevent the introduction of respiratory germs INTO your facility
Post signs at the entrance instructing visitors not to visit if they have symptoms of respiratory infection.
Ensure sick leave policies allow employees to stay home if they have symptoms of respiratory infection.
Assess residents symptoms of respiratory infection upon admission to the facility and implement appropriate infection prevention practices for incoming symptomatic residents.
Symptoms of respiratory infection, including COVID-19:
-Fever
-Cough
-Shortness of breath
Prevent the spread of respiratory germs WITHIN your facility
Keep residents and employees informed.
Describe what actions the facility is taking to protect them, including answering their questions and explaining what they can do to protect themselves and their fellow residents.
Monitor residents and employees for fever or respiratory symptoms.
Restrict residents with fever or acute respiratory symptoms to their room. If they must leave the room for medically necessary procedures, have them wear a facemask (if tolerated).
In general, for care of residents with undiagnosed respiratory infection use Standard, Contact, and Droplet Precautions with eye protection unless suspected diagnosis requires Airborne Precautions (e.g., tuberculosis).
Healthcare personnel should monitor their local and state public health sources to understand COVID-19 activity in their community to help inform their evaluation of individuals with unknown respiratory illness. If there is transmission of COVID-19 in the community, in addition to implementing the precautions described above for residents with acute respiratory infection, facilities should also consult with public health authorities for additional guidance.
Support hand and respiratory hygiene, as well as cough etiquette by residents, visitors, and employees.
Ensure employees clean their hands according to CDC guidelines, including before and after contact with residents, after contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, and after removing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Put alcohol-based hand rub in every resident room (ideally both inside and outside of the room).
Make sure tissues are available and any sink is well-stocked with soap and paper towels for hand washing.
Identify dedicated employees to care for COVID-19 patients and provide infection control training.
Guidance on implementing recommended infection prevention practices is available in CDC’s free online course — The Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training — which includes resources checklists for facilities and employees to use.
Provide the right supplies to ensure easy and correct use of PPE.
Post signs on the door or wall outside of the resident room that clearly describe the type of precautions needed and required PPE.
Make PPE, including facemasks, eye protection, gowns, and gloves, available immediately outside of the resident room.
Position a trash can near the exit inside any resident room to make it easy for employees to discard PPE.

For the most up-to-date information, visit www.cdc.gov/covid19.

Contact administrator of facility & ask if you can visit if you take specific precautions.

I understand your concern but they are trying to protect their residents. This virus will kill a person with a weak immune system and lung problems. I just got a message from a man I take tea to in a NH, that no visitors are allowed. The virus will run its course just not sure when.

I should ask the nursing supervisor to ask whoever made this decision (which I don't argue with, in principle) what infection control measures you might undertake to comply with in order to continue to visit.

If they haven't thought this through, they should have. They'll still be taking deliveries, having maintenance done, receiving mail - anybody who goes into residents' areas ought to be following some kind of protocol. And presumably the staff don't all live on site?

Over here there was talk of recruiting volunteers to boost staffing in nursing homes (I'm not at all sure they've thought that through! - not to mention somebody's bright idea of bringing extra doctors and nurses out of retirement, unless it's a cunning plan to bump them off and save on their pension payments), and what sort of crash course in care, catering and infection control would get them up to speed fast enough.

I'm taking my temperature every morning, besides our standard guidelines. If it's a whisker over normal I'll call in, and I assume I'll be told to stay away. But the virus is in the area, somebody's already tested positive for it, and really it's only a matter of time.

I am not certain I understand this. Why are they restricting visitors. In all truth, even the Kirkland Washington facility is not currently doing this, though visitors are screened before entry. And they have had 20 of the 24 deaths in Washington State. Is this about something other than the Coronovirus? They do have workers coming and going daily. I would ask what their reasoning is, and what this is about. The coronovirus isn't going away, and it is our elders at greatest risk by far, but this seems such a burden on all. If this is the policy I am uncertain how you can get around it at all. Do hope you will update us.

Too bad that (as far as I know) there isn't the opportunity to talk through a window (like what apparently takes place in some prisons). This would probably be expensive and time-consuming to set up.

I visited my mom's skilled nursing facility today and for the first time they asked us to suit up. I gladly did. She's coming home Thursday, and while it's a rather swanky place, I can see that it would be a death trap if the virus gets there.

Now the babies in the NICU! That would break my heart! I was there 2 months with my preemie boy. I just would never leave rather than leave and risk not getting back in. So sad!

Total bans used to be the norm with any outbreak but are now a thing of the past in my region, of course that might change if community transmission becomes widespread. IMO people in your mother's phase of life don't have the time to wait out this crisis because it could literally be months if not years before there is a viable vaccine. Staff is coming and going daily so there is not really a total quarantine, try to work with the administrators to find a compromise - mask and gown? special visiting area?

newnormal2, my friend and husband were just restricted from visiting their twin premature grandbabies in the NICU where they'be been for the past month. It's going to be a challenge for a lot of people.

Dduring this virus outbreak, the NH is absolutely within its rights to ban or limit visitors.

Ask if they will allow you to visit if you suit up.