Nursing Homes, Elderly RIers A Main Focus Of Coronavirus Response

PROVIDENCE, RI — Supporting Rhode Island's elderly population, especially those in nursing homes and other congregate care facilities, remains a top priority of the state's continued coronavirus strategy, Gov, Gina Raimondo said Thursday. Raimondo and other state leaders held a virtual town hall on Facebook earlier in the day, offering support and guidance to those most affected by the pandemic.

"It is really a perfect storm, in a sad way," Raimondo said of nursing homes, saying that it is very difficult to control the spread of infection in areas where there are so many common spaces, especially shared restrooms.

To help support the facilities, the state has developed congregate setting support teams, made up of members from several departments, to provide assistance and guidance in the event of an outbreak. So far, these teams have visited 44 facilities, Raimondo said, representing more than 3,000 Rhode Island residents. At the facilities, the team, which includes members of the National Guard, will coordinate testing efforts, train staff to safely don and remove personal protective equipment and more.

The Rhode Island Department of Health successfully completed the first round of testing in nursing homes, testing every resident and staff member in the state. Going forward, the goal is to test all employees on a rotating basis, every seven to 10 days. The cyclical testing will focus on staff, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Department of Health said, because it has the highest yield of useful data. Residents, meanwhile, will continue to have a low threshold for testing to help get ahead of outbreaks. Unique plans are developed for each facility to create a targeted approach for each.

At the town hall, Dr. James McDonald of the Department of Health said that it's important for those over 60 to pay attention to their mental health, as well as physical health. He encouraged all Rhode Islanders to eat healthy, exercise and quit smoking, as well as keep in touch with their family to avoid isolation.

"The reality is this virus presents the greatest risk to this population," Raimondo said. "We want to make sure you have access to the facts and health care that you need."

Dr. McDonald addressed several questions submitted by the public, which are listed below.

Is it safe for those over 65 years old to be out working, shopping and in the community in general?

It is ok to go out into the community to buy groceries, go for walks and run other errands, McDonald said, though it is important to be careful and consider skipping some fun activities for now. The doctor said his own parents are going out, though only one at a time.

When it comes to socialization, older Rhode Islanders should consider staying in "bubbles," or seeing the same small group of people to reduce the risk of infection.

When will visitors be allowed in nursing homes?

The department is working to develop guidance for congregate care settings, McDonald said. Each facility will be asked to create a plan for safely allowing visitors, which will be submitted to the department for review. Socialization and community is an important part of the healing process, he said, and one that health officials do not disregard.

Visitation will look different than it was before, such as the requirement for reservations, screening for symptoms upon entry or testing residents for COVID-19 before visitors are allowed.

Is is ok to visit grandchildren?

Grandparents who live with their children and grandchildren have a very low risk of infection, McDonald said, as is the case with grandparents under the age of 65. Those who do not live with their grandchildren or are over 65 years old are encouraged to be more careful. Visits are not out of the question, though it's a good idea to keep 6 feet of distance and wear a mask, he said.

Visiting babies is one of the toughest issues at this time, McDonald said, since children under two are unable to wear masks.