Coronavirus fears continue to escalate across the country. As the number of confirmed cases continues to rise, senior care communities are growing increasingly nervous — and rightfully so. In a previous article, we stated that we didn’t believe COVID-19 to be the world-ender that many media outlets were making it out to be. And, while we still don’t believe this is the beginning of the post-apocalyptic societies so many science-fiction movies have warned us about, we can admit that things have taken a more serious turn. Our initial response could potentially be seen as dismissive, and COVID-19 is something that should not be dismissed.
Schools have shut down, closing their doors until April or later. The CDC released a statement that any gatherings of 50 people or more should be cancelled or postponed for at least eight weeks to help slow the spread of the disease. Guidelines released by the White House on March 16th suggested avoiding gatherings of ten or more people. Nursing homes have begun limiting or outright denying guest access to facilities in order to protect their residents, upsetting many families.
In the midst of the escalation, Argentum has released Coronavirus Preparation & Response Toolkit, giving senior care providers a one-stop shop for COVID-19 information and suggestions for dealing with the fallout of this pandemic.
What Resources Are Included?
Argentum’s toolkit includes up-to-date information from the CDC, resources from the U.S. Department of Labor, a preparedness checklist for nursing homes and long-term care settings, and updated guidelines for public health and safety, among other links.
What Can I Do Right Now?
The toolkit also provides an overview and instructions on five critical actions senior care providers and their staffs can take beginning now. The safety of your residents is paramount, and their demographic is the one hardest hit by this disease.
What Other Information Is Included?
The toolkit also includes everything that is known about the virus and the disease it causes so far. You can learn about the disease’s symptoms, how it spreads, and updates on testing availability. It ends with best practice ideas and suggestions for how your community should respond.
We applaud Argentum for putting this toolkit together, taking the time to gather the information and resources available and compile them into one easy-to-access location. You can find Argentum’s Coronavirus Preparation & Response Toolkit right here.