A Rapid Qualitative Appraisal of the Impact of COVID-19 on Long-term Care Communities in the United States: Perspectives from Area Aging Staff and Advocates

Abstract

The COVID-19 epidemic has hit residents and staff of congregate long-term care communities particularly hard. In North Carolina, the site of this research, over half of registered mortality has been associated with congregate living communities. This article reports on phase one of a rapid qualitative assessment of long-term care professionals and regional aging staff navigating care during this epidemic. Our purpose is twofold. We demonstrate both the value of rapid qualitative appraisals to capture the perspectives and concerns of COVID-19’s long-term care workers and area aging staff, in this case, the staff and advocates that care for and protect the rights of long-term care community residents as well as present data collected in this phase. Key points raised focus on safety, including access and use of personal protective equipment, infection control, limited testing, and staffing issues. In addition, participants expressed concerns about the physical and mental health of residents because they have been isolated from family and friends since the executive order closed these communities to all non-essential people. We will utilize these data, in collaboration with staff and advocates, to inform policy and programming to better address the needs of both residents and staff of long-term care communities.

Health and health inequalities impact assessment for non-clinical measures to control COVID-19 in the Basque Country and Navarre (Spain)

“…These results are consistent with published studies showing increased social isolation of older people, which may have led to mental deterioration, including problems of disorientation, agitation, and depression. 71,72…”

Kebutuhan pasien COVID-19 selama isolasi mandiri: Literature Review

“…Penderita COVID 19 yang menjalani isolasi mandiri mengeluhkan masalah kesehatan fisik (Freidus et al, 2020). Salah satunya terkait dengan penambahan berat badan (H. O. Ahmed, 2020) yang disebabkan oleh perubahan rutinitas selama anjuran di rumah.…”

Integrating Praxis Through the Research Process: Caregivers for Older Americans During the COVID‐19 Pandemic

“…Older adults living in the community were generally isolated in their homes. The impact of this isolation was noted by regional AAA staff, administrators, and LTC workers in both congregate and in-home and community-based care (see Freidus, Shenk, and Wolf 2020). Participant #10 explained: I'm just getting frustrated, I think, because I feel like this is not a sustainable way to handle this type of issue.…”

“…What is the application?" Our initial re-sponse focused on our dissemination to date (see Freidus, Shenk, and Wolf 2020;Shenk and Freidus 2020). We also described future reports and other modes of dissemination (i.e., posters, PowerPoints, infographics, blogposts, presentations, and articles) that would be sent to RREAL at UCL as well as all our participants, the AAA, the advocacy group we had been consulting throughout the research, and a concerned county councilwoman we had interviewed for the project.…”