Long-Term Care Workers Brace for Covid’s Next Round
In the middle of the night, Stefania Silvestri lies in bed remembering her elderly patients’ cries. “Help me.” “Please don’t leave me.” “I need my family.” Months of caring for older adults in a Rhode Island nursing home ravaged by Covid-19 have taken a steep toll on Silvestri, 37, a registered nurse. She can’t sleep, […]
Aiding Long-Term Care Staff and Residents, as Covid-19 Takes Its Toll
A tidal wave of grief and loss has rolled through long-term care facilities as the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 91,000 residents and staffers in the U.S. — nearly 40% of recorded Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. And it’s not over: Facilities are bracing for further shocks as coronavirus cases rise across the country. […]
Most Home Health Aides ‘Can’t Afford Not to Work’ — Even When Lacking PPE
In March, Sue Williams-Ward took a new job, with a $1-an-hour raise. The employer, a home healthcare agency called Together We Can, was paying a premium — $13 an hour — after it started losing aides when Covid-19 safety concerns mounted. Williams-Ward, a 68-year-old Indianapolis native, was a devoted caregiver who bathed, dressed, and fed […]
Committed to Caring for You Safely
For many of us, COVID-19 is still causing concerns about seeking medical care when we need it. Unfortunately, delaying care for serious issues could put your health at risk. Whether you need a routine checkup or are suddenly faced with a serious medical condition, NorthShore University HealthSystem is taking every step to ensure patient safety. […]
Care During COVID-19
Senior communities are adapting to keep residents safe and engaged As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc, staff at Chicago’s senior living communities are adapting to keep residents safe and to provide engaging care in the age of the coronavirus. With the ongoing threat, care communities are doubling down on infection controls as well […]
Ask the Harvard Experts: For COVID-19, Defining ‘Older’ and ‘Chronic Disease’
Q: I keep hearing about how older adults and those with chronic diseases have a higher risk from COVID-19. What is “older” and a “chronic disease”? A: Indeed, older adults and those with chronic health problems who get COVID-19 are more likely to require hospitalization and admission to an intensive care unit. “Older” is more […]
Facing the Anguish of My Father’s COVID-19 Diagnosis
Above photo: Writer Katie Colt, as a baby with her father Norman Sack. Photo courtesy of Katie Colt My mother recently received a call from my father’s memory care facility in northern Cook County, letting her know that he had tested positive for COVID-19 — the facility’s first known positive case. I don’t know with certainty […]
Shutting Out the Coronavirus Threat for Seniors in Continuing Care Communities
With tight restrictions in place at their continuing care retirement community, Tom and Janice Showler are getting on each other’s nerves. Most days, Tom, 76, likes to drive out of their community ― Asbury Springhill in Erie, Pennsylvania — to the store to pick up a few items. “If you follow the right protocols, the […]
Amid Pandemic, Programs Struggle to Reach Vulnerable Seniors Living at Home
This is the new reality as the COVID-19 virus barrels into communities across America. Older adults — the demographic group most at risk of dying if they become ill ― are being warned against going out and risking contagion.