when you look at the statistics on the deaths from covid 19 you will see of folks who died so far many have been in long term care facilities
many of these patients in these facilities are alzheimers patients at various stages
many have chronic health conditions that make them more vulnerable
most are older so their immune system are suppressed making them susceptible to infectious agents
in some states over half of these deaths are from long term care facilities
half of the patients in some of these places have some type of dementia
so a large number of these patients are dementia patients that are dying
if you have ever cared for these long term care patients you know that things like scabies and staph can spread through the facilities making it hard to control
all patients are screened for tuberculosis since the germ can sit dormant until an opportunity arises for it to cause an infection
pneumonia and flu are easily spread amongst this population
much
less think how vulnerable they are to the covid 19
which is highly contagious mainly from airborne exposure
a simple mild virus can kill them much less the aggressive covid 19
they cant remember to wash their hands
they cant wear a mask
they tend to wander so forget social distancing
they are exposed and vulnerable
most of these patients if they get the covid 19 will not survive the infection
early on before how to control the spread was really understood it spread like wildfire through these facilities
how did the germ get inside these places
from workers and visitors
now
visitors are kept out of these places
workers are usually screened and they wear better protection for themselves and for the patients
so i think the outbreaks have slowed some in these places now that they know what to do
but
once these high risk patients get it the odds are against them surviving
i watch on tv how family members have to talk on face time or through windows to their loved ones
many havent been able to touch and hug them for weeks
i think of my mom and my younger brother when they were at that stage how difficult it would be for the family and for them to not have that human interaction that human touch
i dont have an answer on how to make the situation better
i just know it hurts to watch
to think about them being in that situation
how painful that must be
we are able to control our exposure by staying inside as much as possible and only going to places that we consider safe
if we do we use protection that may prevent us from catching the virus
these alzheimers patients are dependent on others to protect them
they are so vulnerable
the organicgreendoctor
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