Editorial – WCCC a Model for Fighting the Coronavirus

On Friday, Pro Publica, an investigative news outlet, wrote about how certain nursing homes around the country had violated basic standards, allowing the Coronavirus to explode. The article was a perfect primer on how not to run a nursing home:

–Near Seattle, the Enumclaw Health & Rehabilitation Center had three residents come down with the Coronavirus. While they were moved to an isolation wing, roommates were left in their rooms and staff was given no direction on how to care for them. Subsequently, the roommates came down with the virus as well. The employees were told by corporate not to start the roommates on isolation. Subsequently, 38 residents and 10 staffers tested positive for the virus as of April 2nd, and 5 residents died.

–Also near Seattle, the Life Care Center of Kirkland had 40 residents pass away.

–At Beaconshire Nursing Center, near Detroit, a nursing assistant ate her lunch while feeding a resident who had virus symptoms. She didn’t have on protective gloves or a gown, and her mask was below her chin so she could eat her food.

–At Hearthstone, near Seattle, a nursing assistant without eye protection walked into the room of a resident in isolation for suspected symptoms, changed the resident’s soiled briefs, and fed the resident without washing her hands.

We understand that many facilities are short of testing equipment, personal protective equipment, and staffing resources. But right here at home, facing the same problems other facilities have dealt with, the Worth County Care & Rehab Center has handled the situation with flying colors. They closed the facility to visitors in early March. Their employees and administration have taken aggressive measures to protect against the virus. They have implemented social distancing measures and have still managed to give their residents a semblance of normalcy and community. The residents plan to plant a garden this years, and the facility is seeking donations.

When one resident did contract the virus, the facility gave clear direction to their employees, including self-isolation when not at work and strict hygiene measures. Thankfully, these measures ended on April 15th, and nobody else has contracted the virus as of this writing (Friday).

These are the sorts of things that we take for granted here. When our grandmother went to a nursing home after a fall, the place was understaffed, and it took forever for staff to answer the call button. At the Worth County Care & Rehab Center, calls are answered right away.

There is a clear difference between facilities like the Worth County Care & Rehab Center and many others. The WCCC is answerable to the taxpayers of the county, and offers many services to the community beyond housing residents who need skilled care. Many others are owned by corporate chains which are only answerable to the bottom line; one facility that closed in the area recently was owned by a New York City hedge fund. In order to protect against more such pandemics, we need more facilities that are answerable to the taxpayers and the people they serve, not large corporations and wealthy investors who don’t live in the communities.