Page 33 - BusinessWest Sept. 29, 2021

Business of Aging
David Ianacone says infection-control expertise in the skilled- nursing world predates COVID by far.
Pivoting ... J
Again
Senior Service Providers Navigate a Virus That Won’t Go Away
ust when it seemed COVID-19 was getting under control,
the Delta variant of the virus took hold — and has encour- aged many communities in Western Mass. to once again mandate wearing masks indoors.
By Mark Morris
With the variant showing no signs of slowing, BusinessWest checked in with several companies that serve seniors in the area — through home care, assisted living, and skilled nursing — to ask how they are navigating this stubborn virus that won’t go away.
They all have different stories, but one constant stands out: all of them have kept safety protocols in place that exceed the require- ments of state and local mandates.
For David Ianacone, administrator at the Center for Extended Care and Rehabilitation at Amherst, rigid protocols are in place at all times to prevent infection problems.
“In the nursing-home business, we’re experts in infection con- trol,” he said. “Long before the virus, we’ve had protocols in place known as ‘universal precaution.’”
Indeed, everyone who enters the facility must get their tempera- ture taken and fill out a health questionnaire. Masks are required for staff and visitors at all times. Ianacone said 99% of the patients are fully vaccinated, and he estimated that 92% of the staff have received the vaccine.
“We have around 15 unvaccinated staff, most of whom work in the office or dietary area and are not in direct contact with patients,”
BUSINESS OF AGING
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 33
BusinessWest