Monterey, CA Nursing Homes Hit Hard In Coronavirus Pandemic

A woman helping an older person with papers


Almost all nursing homes in Monterey County have reported coronavirus outbreaks, and this may signal a paradigm shift where more people decide to live out their final years at home.  The U.S. currently has the largest number of nursing home residents in the world and accounts for the largest number of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., a total of 115K.  Occupancy in nursing homes is down by 15%, due both to deaths and a decrease in admissions.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-spurs-families-to-shun-nursing-homes-a-shift-that-appears-long-lasting-11608565170

Monterey, CA Aging At Home Is Now In Vogue : Assisted Living On The Outs

A nurse is smiling next to an older woman.


COVID-19 has made aging at home in vogue.  The Wall Street Journal recently wrote an article on how coronavirus is changing the way Americans face retirement by “accelerating developments already under way,†physician Bill Thomas said to the reporter.  “It’s going to make people rethink retirement altogether,†Laura Carstensen, director of Stanford University’s Center on Longevity said.  Most people will age at home, and remain independent, she said.  I believe that her view is true.  With roughly 40% of COVID-19 being staff and residents of nursing homes, nobody wants to go into a facility these days.  We have been getting a number of calls from fearful children who want to get their parents out of assisted living and back home, where they can reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure.  Although COVID-19 will eventually be wiped out, there will clearly be more devastating diseases in the future which makes these facilities dangerous.   

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-covid-19-will-change-aging-and-retirement-11605452401

 

Carmel, CA Assisted Living Center Cottages Of Carmel Gets COVID-19 Outbreak

A man wearing a mask with yellow warning tape around his mouth.


The Cottages Of Carmel is the latest assisted living facility on the Monterey Peninsula to be inundated with COVID-19 cases.  Alton Mendleson, the executive director, sent out a message to residents and their families that they recently doubled the number of positives from eight to 16.  “If you did not hear from us today, then your loved one had a negative test result,†said Mendleson.  In addition to the residents, 10 workers have been infected and one is isolated at home with symptoms, but hasn’t been tested yet.  The facility had been coronavirus free until November.

http://pineconearchive.fileburstcdn.com/201204PCA.pdf

Monterey, CA Nursing Home Cases Of Coronavirus Exploding

A close up of many viruses on a red background


The number of COVID-19 cases in nursing homes across the nation are exploding, and both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties have been no exception.  Despite federal efforts to shield residents through aggressive testing and visitor restrictions, these don’t appear to be working.  Federal data shows that there were 10,279 COVID-19 cases during the week of November, the last week the data has been reported.  The number surpassed the previous record of 9,903 cases in late July, according to the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.  “We have been begging people the last eight months to wear a mask, socially distance and be careful,†said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL.  “Unfortunately, the public has not listened and or complied.  Please, be safe!