Page 66 - BusinessWest September 28, 2020

infectious disease and emergency medicine to Armbrook to further examine these cases.
“Incidents like this were happening all over the country,” Cardillo said. “It’s how we learned that people can manifest other symptoms but still have the coronavirus.”
Similarly, at the beginning of the pandemic, health officials were not encouraging everyone to wear masks; later, with better information, they shifted course. As information on all aspects of COVID-19 improved and safety guidelines were implemented across the U.S., senior-living facilities that already had sanitizing and infec- tion protocols in place increased their efforts to battle the spread of coronavirus.
Emily Tamilio, Corporate Marketing direc- tor for Rockridge Retirement Community in Northampton, said her complex revamped its already-strong infection-control policies before the state went into lockdown. “We’ve redoubled our protocols and to make sure all our staff is up to date on proper infection control, hand wash- ing, and strict sanitization procedures.”
Meanwhile, at Atrium at Cardinal Drive in Agawam — an assisted-living facility exclusively for people with memory loss — Executive Direc- tor Cheryl Moran imposed strict screening pro- cedures to keep residents and staff safe, such as requiring all outside agencies to get her approval before they could enter the facility.
In the caregiving community, it’s not unusual for workers at one assisted-living facility to take a second part-time job at a similar site or earn additional income by providing care at a person’s home. Moran knew she had to address this vul- nerability to keep the virus away. “I met with all our associates and offered more money, more
hours, and different hours to encourage them to work only for the Atrium.”
Tamilio said Rockridge also offered additional pay and hours to keep staff working only at that facility. “Having our people just work for Rock- ridge was key to preventing transmission.”
was key, and personally checked in with every family member. “We were honest with people and let them know what was going on, and they appreciated that.”
As a further precaution for those in assisted living, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs man-
“We had someone who tested COVID-positive, but he didn’t have a fever or a respiratory problem. He felt weak, fatigued, and he almost passed out.
Both Moran and Tamilio said encouraging staff to work only at one community is one of the main reasons neither campus has had any COVID-19 cases to date. It’s an example of how senior-living com- munities across Western Mass. had to be creative and aggressive — and continue to do so — to protect the most vulnerable population from a pandemic that’s far from over.
Visitation Consternation
In mid-March, the state issued guidelines
for senior-living facilities to allow visitors only after they’ve had a health screening prior to their entry. When the pandemic first hit, all three communities BusinessWest spoke with said they restricted all outsiders except health providers and other essential personnel. Unfortunately, that meant families were not able to visit their loved ones in assisted living.
“As disappointing as that was, we had a solid communication process in place, and we were transparent about any changes, so it was much easier to get the families, residents, and staff on board,” Tamilio said.
Cardillo also stressed that communication
”
BETH CARDILLO
dated that everyone be quarantined in their apartments. No communal dining or walking around the halls was allowed.
Cardillo noted that many residents in assisted living have cognitive impairments that make processing and retaining information difficult, so structure and constant communication are very important. Still, cognitively impaired resi- dents who had been making progress before the quarantine began to backslide.
“They were confused again, depression was setting in, and their anxiety increased,” she recalled. “In some ways, the social isolation was almost worse than the virus.”
Staff dressed in full personal protective equip- ment (PPE) began meeting one-on-one with each resident in their apartment. Cardillo said reaching out and having conversations with the
Rest and Recover from Your Hospital Stay
in Comfort
At East Longmeadow Skilled Nursing We Offer:
• Beautiful new building with spa-like surroundings
and spacious private rooms to maximize comfort
• Short-term post-hospitalization rehab, long-term care, and
specialized memory care
• A skilled, compassionate clinical and rehabilitation staff
Visit www.TOUReastlongmeadownursing.org today for a virtual look at our brand new facility
Given the ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions, new residents may be subject to screening before move-in. Visitation policies are subject to change to protect the health of our residents.
Meadows Crossing • 305A Maple Street • East Longmeadow 413-525-6361 • www.eastlongmeadownursing.org
Welcome to A New, Reimagined Way to Recover
26 SEPTEMBER 28, 2020
BUSINESS OF AGING
BusinessWest