Page 65 - BusinessWest September 28, 2020

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By Mark Morris
eth Cardillo said the arrival of COVID-19 caused a “wildfire effect.”
Senior-living
Communities Stay
Strong Against
Coronavirus
For example, hospitals were only admitting COVID- positive patients if they had a fever and showed respirato- ry symptoms. Some seniors at Armbrook, however, were testing positive but manifesting different symptoms.
“We had someone who tested COVID-positive, but he didn’t have a fever or a respiratory problem,” she said. “He felt weak, fatigued, and he almost passed out.”
Cardillo’s call for an EMT to transport the positive- testing resident to the hospital was met with disappoint- ment when she was told the hospital would not admit anyone for the coronavirus unless they had a fever or respiratory symptoms.
“At that time, no one knew there were a host of other symptoms,” she said. “It’s nobody’s fault because nobody knew.”
Cardillo informed Baystate Medical Center about resi- dents who showed different symptoms for the coronavi- rus, and the hospital quickly sent a team of specialists in
Business of Aging
as memory care, Cardillo said the first days of the pan- demic created huge challenges for healthcare profession- als who faced major decisions while working with limited information.
As executive director of Armbrook Village, a senior-living community in Westfield that offers independent and assisted living, as well
Cheryl Moran says she increased staffers’ hours and pay to make sure they worked only at the Atrium during the pandemic.
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