The Unique Challenges Faced by Assisted Living Communities to Meet Federal Guidelines for COVID-19

Abstract

This perspective addresses the challenges that assisted living (AL) providers face concerning federal guidelines to prevent increased spread of COVID-19. These challenges include restriction of family visitation, use of third-party providers as essential workers, staffing guidelines, transfer policies, and rural AL hospitalizations. To meet these challenges we recommend that AL providers incorporate digital technology to maintain familyresident communication. We also recommend that states adopt protocols that limit the number of AL communities visited by home health care workers in a 14-day period, appeal to the federal government for hazard pay for direct care workers, and to extend the personal care attendant program to AL. It is further recommended that states work with AL communities to implement COVID-19 comprehensive emergency management plans that are well-coordinated with local emergency operation centers to assist with transfers to COVID-19 specific locations and to assist in rural areas with hospital transfers. Together, these recommendations to AL providers and state and federal agencies address the unique structure and needs of AL and would enable AL communities to be better prepared to care for and reduce those infected with COVID-19.

COVID-19 Recommendations for Assisted Living: Implications for the Future

“…However, these adaptations require investments in technological devices as well as add responsibilities to an already stretched workforce who need to facilitate these virtual conversations for those without personal devices and for residents with dementia. 53,55,57 Adding concern to the impact of this disruption is that in general, psychosocial support in AL is limited; only 10% of communities directly employ a social worker, and the extent of social work services lags behind that available in NHs, hospice, and adult day services. 5 Because social workers are trained to promote resident well-being, 58e62 COVID-19 recommendations underscore the benefit of having psychosocially trained personnel such as social workers to support residents, their family members, and staff.…”

“…However, small AL communities and those in rural areas may face challenges transferring residents with COVID-19 to higher levels of care because of lack of established relationships with NHs and lack of local hospital bed space. 57…”

Assessing the Distribution of Elderly Requiring Care: A Case Study on the Residents in Barcelona and the Impact of COVID-19

“…They all share bathrooms, eat in dining halls, and occupy the same common spaces. If a visitor, worker, or doctor gets sick and passes the infection on to a resident, everyone else in the facility is at risk, and due to the design plan, it is difficult to maintain social distance and avoid contaminated surfaces when many people are living under the same roof [ 20 ]. This is increasingly worrisome when considering that elderly citizens who need assistance are the population group most vulnerable to some diseases such as the flu or viruses.…”

Closure of Parks in Lockdown! Is It Good or Bad?

“…However, in Pakistan only a selected few have backyards and the majority of the Pakistani population are living in houses without lawns or backyards. The Canadian, American, and the British government have devised guidelines for imposing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic and have categorically stated that the masses should stay at home where possible and only leave if there is a reasonable excuse (9,10). Exercise and shopping for necessities come under the umbrella of reasonable excuse.…”