Coronavirus Nursing Home Neglect

Generally, nursing homes are required to take steps to protect and care for their residents, including:

• Hiring qualified personnel
• Employing a sufficient number of staff members
• Training employees
• Developing comprehensive care plans for residents
• Ensuring residents receive adequate supervision and assistive devices
• Treating every resident with dignity and respect

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has offered guidance for long-term care facilities to prepare for and respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Key strategies include:

• Keep COVID-19 out: The CDC instructs nursing homes to restrict visitors, volunteers, and non-essential healthcare personnel. They also recommend actively screening staff, vendors, and anyone else who enters the premises.
• Identify infections early: Nursing homes should actively screen residents daily for symptoms of COVID-19, isolate symptomatic residents, and notify state or local health departments about suspected and confirmed cases.
• Prevent the spread of the virus: The CDC says that nursing homes should cancel group activities and communal dining, enforce social distancing, and ensure residents wear a cloth face covering whenever they leave their room.
• Access and optimize PPE supply: If they anticipate shortages, nursing homes should reach out to local and state health departments for supplies.
• Identify and manage severe infections: Nursing homes should designate a place to care for residents with suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19, as well as monitor ill residents at least three times a day to identify those who require a higher level of care.