Explanation sought for many corona outbreaks in nursing homes

Of the 2,500 people who died in the second corona wave, half lived in a nursing home. This can partly be explained by the fact that the nursing homes were not locked this time, as during the first wave. In addition, about 70 percent of nursing home residents have dementia. A group of elderly people who find it difficult to adhere to corona measures, explains professor Bianca Buurman. NOS reports this.

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Yet some of the outbreaks cannot be explained by conscious choices, but precisely by mistakes. Sometimes the corona virus enters the nursing home through an employee. And despite the fact that he then wears a mouth cap and other protective equipment, this is not always the perfect solution. “Employees are an important source of introduction, after all, they walk in and out every day”, says OMT member and professor Cees Hertogh.

Inadequate testing policy

He also sees that the testing policy in nursing homes is not optimal. Regardless of whether someone shows complaints, nursing homes must test their residents and employees on a weekly basis. But that doesn’t happen often enough. Also, caregivers still too often miss corona symptoms in the elderly they care for. One of the reasons why testing is not done often enough is its profound effect on elderly people with dementia. A cotton swab deep in the nose can cause a panic reaction. “That is indeed a dilemma, but a severe covid infection is worse than a nose-throat swab. As difficult as it may be, I think we should test much more aggressively than we do now, “said Hertogh.

There are even more reasons that there are so many infections and deaths in nursing homes, but a GGD study in collaboration with Hertogh and Buurman must reveal exactly what the causes are.

By: Nationale Zorggids

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