As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) alters the way we operate individually and as a society, we at Nightingale Healthcare are diligently monitoring our buildings to ensure the continued health and safety of our residents and staff. With this effort, if someone is presenting symptoms that parallel that of COVID-19, precautions are immediately being taken which includes, but are not limited to isolation.
As of this update, there have been zero reported cases at any of our buildings.
While our measures to restrict the spread of illness within our buildings is paramount, in line with the new measures executed by CMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) on March 13, 2020, we are incorporating procedures to ensure the social isolation of our residents is also being handled responsibly and with compassion.
According to the Association of Health Care Journalists, social isolation and loneliness are associated with increased mortality in older adults.
Social isolation has also been linked to other adverse health effects, including:
- Dementia;
- Increased risk for hospital readmission; and
- Increased risk of falls
However, research consistently shows that feeling connected and involved benefits both mental and physical health.
Nightingale Healthcare’s enrichment teams are hard at work infusing LIFE, LOVE, ENGAGEMENT, and PURPOSE within the daily lives of its residents.
Our effort to minimize the negative impact of social isolation directly related to COVID-19 are being addressed swiftly at each of our buildings. Some of the creative ways we’re tackling this issue, while remaining in compliance with state and federal nursing home regulations, include:
Daily “doorway” activities such as trivia, Bingo, and ring toss activities whereby residents can engage in an activity without having to leave his or her room.
We’re bringing smiles to our residents’ faces with staff costume days and parades through our hallways.
We’ve been passing out afternoon snacks and watching movies throughout the days as well as a lot of one-on-one social and leisure visits, including assisting our residents use FaceTime and Skype to communication visually with their family members.
Daily card games, art projects, courtyard strolls in the Spring sun, and therapeutic gardening activities with our ElderGrow garden are other ways we are stimulating our residents emotionally, mentally, and physically.
The physical and emotional safety, health, and well-being of our residents is of the utmost importance to us. Please trust that your loved one is being skillfully, lovingly, and thoughtfully cared for in every aspect of their daily lives.
If you haven’t been able to connect with your loved one through visual technology, please contact us so that we can coordinate that conversation with your loved one for you!
We will all get through this together.