My sister's nursing home/memory care is on LOCKDOWN!

[NurseJackie]

My sister's nursing home/memory care is on LOCKDOWN! No visitors, no deliveries (inside the building... reception desk only). Fortunately, the mail delivery is done in a little room/closet where the mailman and fill the keylocked boxes from the back side.

They've closed the dining room (all meals delivered to residents in their room)... no bingo, no movie night, no story time, no crafts, no gardening, no sing alongs, and NO VISITORS.

All staff will be screened (temperature tested) and questioned before each shift. All residents will be screened daily. Residents aren't being locked in their rooms... they can still visit with others or walk in the hallways, but all outside activities have been cancelled as well.

They've made some tough choices, but I think with this vulnerable population (especially alzheimer's patients like my sister) who don't really understand the risks, and can't remember how/why it's important... I believe they're doing their best.

I completely approve of the "No Visitors" lockdown. It's perfectly reasonable because some visitors may not know they're infectious. Or they may not care, or may be of the persuasion and type of individual who believes it's not all-that-bad (or a hoax).

But, still... I worry for my sister... she's over 80 and surrounded by other "over-80's" who are also suffering from dementia. This is not a good time. I can't visit her. Nobody can. We call, but she wants to know when she can come home and when we can come visit.

I fear she may not make it to her next birthday. It's heartbreaking.

[dewsgirl]

1. Hang in there...😔

[Just_Vote_Dem]

2. Sorry for you NJ

I work with a lady whose mom is in one of the same kind of facilities you described, and she was also not allowed to see her. She was able to leave her some supplies, which the staff said would get to her.

All my best, take care

[NurseJackie]

38. Thanks. I appreciate that.

I trust that she's going to be fine and they're doing everything possible. Still, it's hard not to worry.

[Moostache]

3. My heart is breaking for you and your sister right now...

I hope you both come through this and that in the end we are all able to hug our loved ones and get that so important human contact. Sending out all the positive vibes I can muster up...

[2naSalit]

4. Worried about my mom

who isn't in lock down but is being monitored for the virus. She' 92 and not in good health. My sisters and I were talking about the what ifs... they aren't all that good. My mom is kind of freaked out about being alone when she passes. If she gets the covid19 thing, we won't be able to be there with her! She will have to die alone, the one things she's dreaded all her long life! That, for us, is the worst thing. My sisters have gone out of their way to make sure that would not happen and now it seems there may be nothing we can do about it.

I hope your sister will be okay.

[cwydro]

5. If the staff is there, why cant they have bingo, singalongs etc? Why no crafts?

I find that unconscionable; these are human beings.

That makes no sense.

[NurseJackie]

9. "Social distancing" ... keeping people as separate as possible.

They are an extremely vulnerable age group. And because of the alzheimers, they just don't comprehend the risks... or the precautions that are needed.

[cwydro]

10. But a person can do crafts in their room.

They can be read to easily.

Sorry, this breaks my heart. My parents swore they’d never go into one of those places, and thank god they never did.

My friends know that I won’t either.

[NurseJackie]

11. She has her TV... and Alexa.

Omg... Alexa is amazing for her. She'll ask for her favorite songs and she'll ask questions that Alexa will answer. Often the same question multiple times, but it keeps her entertained. She loves it.

Alexa, what's the weather? Alexa, what time is it? Alexa, how are you? Alexa are you a person? Alexa, what's the weather? Alexa, what is today's date? Alexa what's your favorite color? Alexa tell me a joke.

Good days and bad... sometimes my sis is almost childlike... it breaks my heart. A devoted civil servant working at military bases from Florida to Virginia and even a stint in the Clinton White House (and for anti-doxxing reasons, that's all I'll reveal). She was an organizational and efficiency expert... old school shorthand and speed typist... and it's all just fading away. She forgets her time and place, she thinks long-deceased family are still alive and grieves when she realizes they're gone. But she still remembers us all, so that's something positive.

[cwydro]

16. God, well, good Alexa is there.

Makes me sad. All of this.

[NurseJackie]

30. Thank you.

[Mariana]

15. I'm sure they mean no group crafting activities.

I don't imagine they're confiscating the crochet hooks or anything like that.

[cwydro]

17. Lol, thanks!

Hope you’re tight!

Still, social isolation is the last thing these folks need.

[NurseJackie]

20. yes... correct. All group activities are on hold.

[magicarpet]

6. Maybe touch base periodically over the phone so she knows you are there for her and if she....

.... needs anything you will get it to her.

[NurseJackie]

37. Thanks. We do call often.

She loves to talk about the old days... sometimes she'll tell us about people who have visited (but who are long dead) and going shopping and driving to the store (she didn't) ... but we go along with it, because it's probably real to her. Or it's a memory from LONG past that seems "new" to her.

Alzheimer's is evil.

[sheshe2]

7. My heart goes out to you and yours.

[NurseJackie]

34. I appreciate that.

💕

[demosincebirth]

8. Sorry to hear that.

[NurseJackie]

35. Thank you...

[Cha]

12. Oh Jackie.. I'm so sorry you all are going

through this heartbreaking time.. and hope there will be a resolution to this pandemic crisis soon.. Virtual hug

[NurseJackie]

32. Thank you... Mahalo!

[George II]

13. Caring for the elderly (I mean 80+) can be difficult. One can only hope that the people....

....running the place know what they're doing and are minimizing the danger.

From what you say, though, this is just a safety precaution to keep everyone safe? Better safe than sorry.

Keep us up to date, please.

[NurseJackie]

39. No new news... so I guess that's good news.

I do approve of management's decision, I'm not complaining about that at all. In a strange way it's comforting (although alarming at the same time.)

[Ms. Toad]

14. My parents and my aunt are in a similar situation

My parents are in an extended care community. They live independently - but there is a segregation within the community.

People living in cottages (my parents) cannot visit those in residential care (or the memory unit) and no one is permitted in from the outside except for staff. The Friends meeting there (which meets on site) is split into 3 pieces: Residential care, cottage residents, and community members - since they aren't allo0wed to mix.

Worse for my Aunt - she is in her 90s and depends on daily visits from family because the care home is irresponsible. She called my SIL 3 times yesterday after wetting herself and being unable to get anyone to answer the call button. This is typical, and she is not exaggerating. We know, we see it when we visit. There is literally someone with her every day. No more.

But it is necessary. People in cottages are still free to leave, so even though no one can visit them, they can go outside of the community and be exposed to the virus. So they need to be separeted from the other residents.

My aunt's case is tragic, and we've been working to hold them accountable (complaints filed with the state - all found valid), but now we're not even allowed to look over their shoulders.

[NurseJackie]

23. My sister isn't dialing out any more... but she loves to receive calls.

Also... she isn't texting any more, but she loves to READ texts that she receives. For several years she was very proficient with her iphone and ipad... but now it's just reading incoming texts.

I'm glad she enjoys that.

[Ms. Toad]

24. At least there's that.

We're encouraging our aunt to continue to report to us when they leave stinking trash in her room for days, fail to respond to her call light, leave her sitting in pee and poop. We'll call them when she calls us, then call back in 15 minutes or so to make sure they've taken care of it. Their recent excluse is "we're charting." Charting is important - but it can be minimized when residents have important needs being unmet.

(She was so bad the last time she went to the hospital that the ER docs were ready to file a complaint on her behalf.)

[Coventina]

18. So's my grandmother's.

Should have happened two weeks ago, but better late than never.

[ProfessorGAC]

19. The Place Where My BiL Is...

...has the no visitor, and no leaving the premises items. (Except for the memory & dementia residents. They can't leave the building unsupervised)
But, if they're locking down everything internally, they sure didn't tell my wife.
And, it's a competent & compassionate place. So I can't see them hiding that.
Might get stricter but I don't think they've gone as far as what you're describing.

[mcar]

21. Most of our local ALFs/Memory Care facilities are doing the same, Jackie

These loved ones are so vulnerable. We've seen what happened in WA state.

I salute all the healthcare professionals dealing with this crisis.

[yardwork]

22. Same with my mom's assisted living facility.

[blueinredohio]

25. Maybe it won't be for long. Hang in there.

[NurseJackie]

33. I miss her... I guess I'm grieving in advance.

Even though she's not gone yet. It's an insidious and evil disease.

[blueinredohio]

36. I know what you mean.

My dad had dementia for years. It was like Alzheimer's at the end he couldn't do anything for himself. He had to be fed,bathed etc. He didn't talk. It was awful. But we were lucky there were enough siblings we could keep him at home until the end. Bless you for visiting when you can.

[guillaumeb]

26. I am sorry for you NJ, and everyone in your situation. eom

[NurseJackie]

27. Thank you.

[at140]

28. My M-in-Law's assisted living fcility in AZ is in lockdown

No visitors permitted except hospice.

[Jarqui]

29. I'm in a similar situation

My old doctor became a dear family friend who is now in long term care with arthritis and beginning of memory loss.
I've been visiting her at least once a week for a few months- since they put her in there.

Prior to locking out visitors, they had been screening people at the front door, documenting who they were and who they were seeing. And then making them wash with hand sanitizer.

I'm comforted by the fact they're taking care of the people there and everyone has been nice.

We text nearly every day. I've been sending her medical articles on the coronavirus and we've been discussing them.

I'm working on finding out the process for sending her care packages.

[juxtaposed]

31. It's a tuff time for use with loved ones in a similar situation. I feel after the Washington State

outbreak it was a wakeup call across the country. I know reading the protalcal they are doing at your sisters residency is a huge improvement from a week ago.

I wish your sister and you well.