Written by Tanya Terry
Many feel history will dreadfully repeat itself because of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases within a specific population in Michigan!
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been over 3,459 Michigan nursing home residents have died from COVID-19. This includes 49 in the most recent four-week period ending November 20.
The Courier recently talked with Melissa Seifert, who works in government affairs for AARP, about the winter COVID surge beginning in Michigan nursing homes!
AARP has come out with an AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 dashboard as of June 1, 2020. AARP has, through this dashboard, taken a snapshot of the national statistics from the CDC. AARP, an interest group focusing on issues affecting those over the age of fifty, has also narrowed this information down to state-specific data.
“What we’re seeing here in the state of Michigan is that, for the last period, ending on Nov. 20, only 45% of residents and 22% of staff nationwide were up to date on their current vaccines,” Seifert stated. “Here in Michigan that is much lower. So, in Michigan we’re only seeing about 40% of residents are up-to-date on their vaccines. With staff, it’s even lower. We’re seeing only 14% of staff are up to date on their vaccines.”
According to Seifert, AARP is hyper-focused on nursing home staff and residents because they saw previously during the pandemic the outbreak of COVID and the terrible impact that had on residents and staff.
“We really want to make sure this vulnerable population is protected,” Seifert added.
Seifert also stated the nursing home data is indicative of what we will see outside the nursing homes as well!
“We saw this when COVID began. We saw this influx of COVID cases among residents and staff, and the same thing happened in the entire state of Michigan where this huge influx happened!”
Seifert pointed out the difference is people have a bigger issue self-isolating and protecting themselves in these nursing homes because the care they’re receiving could be very hands-on, depending on what their needs are in these facilities.
“These staff members are going from resident, to resident, to resident, taking care of them. If the staff aren’t properly vaccinated, we’re going to likely see an influx in COVID cases among residents who are also not up to date on their vaccines.”
Only California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico and the District of Columbia have staff “up-to-date” vaccination rates above one-third.
Seifert said this is something Michigan needs to look at to determine what best practices we can capture from those states and implement in Michigan.
Seifert understands the vaccine is not mandated in Michigan, and some individuals will not be able to get the vaccine due to pre-existing medical issues.
Seifert pointed out early in the pandemic, there was a shutdown in nursing home facilities. So ombudsmen, who serve as advocates for residents and staff, could no longer enter the facilities. These ombudsmen, therefore, could not find out what they were doing to ensure safety and introduce protocols and best practices.
Seifert considers it very positive that the governor has created a Nursing Home COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force.
“AARP had a seat at that table, and I had a seat at that table. Out of that, came mandating the nursing homes have proper PPE, that they create areas for individuals who do test positive for COVID. But all nursing homes are not built the same.”
Seifert stressed that AARP encourages those outside of the nursing homes to educate themselves on these matters and those living inside the nursing homes to become their own advocates.
AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 dashboard can be used by nursing home residents and staff, as well as individuals who have loved ones in these facilities. The link for the dashboard is aarp.org/nursinghomedashboard.
There are also 10 research-based questions to ask to help ensure the safety of those in nursing homes from ARRP available at https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/coronavirus-nursing-home-questions.html
