HANCOCK COUNTY — If you want to visit a resident at Golden Living Center-Brandywine in Greenfield, you’ll have to pass a temperature assessment and complete a health questionnaire first.
It’s just one of the measures nursing homes in Hancock County are taking to protect a population the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is at the highest risk of COVID-19. At least one other facility in the county isn’t allowing visitors at all.
Older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease are at higher risk of COVID-19, according to the CDC. The virus, which can cause symptoms like fever, cough and shortness of breath, is thought to spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Nursing homes are at the highest risk of COVID-19 because of their congregate nature and residents they serve, who are older and often have underlying chronic medical conditions, the CDC says.
Along with temperature assessments and questionnaires, Golden LivingCenter — Brandywine is also limiting visitation from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Indiana Golden LivingCenters told the Daily Reporter in an email that the company implemented the rules at all of its facilities.
“Infection prevention and control is always a top priority and, as a result, our nursing teams are prepared for events such as this,” the company said in the message. “We fully understand the national healthcare concerns related to COVID-19 and we take it seriously.”
The company also said in its March 13 email that it hasn’t had any reports of COVID-19 diagnoses from employees or residents.
Indiana Golden LivingCenters has a plan for coordination among county health departments across the state and LivingCenter teams to follow infection control guidelines and recommendations from the CDC and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the company added.
“By and large, we are just focusing community resources on communicating with families and taking care of staff and residents at this time,” Kelli Luneborg-Stern, a spokeswoman for Indiana Golden LivingCenters, told the Daily Reporter.
Springhurst Health Campus in Greenfield posted on its Facebook page on March 11 that it is restricting visitors through the end of the month, with exceptions for end-of-life care.
The CDC recommends long-term care facilities and nursing homes restrict all visitation except for certain compassionate care situations like end-of-life situations. It also recommends restricting all volunteers and non-essential health care personnel, canceling group activities and communal dining and implementing screening residents and personnel for fever and respiratory symptoms.
Sugar Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation on U.S. 40 west of Greenfield requests on its website that family and friends of residents not to visit the facility and instead call or video chat. Residents can Skype with loved ones at the facility.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are limiting all visitors for urgent needs only such as end of life or if a visit is necessary for a resident’s wellbeing,” the site states, adding anyone who does come into the facility will be screened for symptoms.
A popup greets visitors to McCordsville-based Traditions at Brookside’s website asking if they have a fever, cough, sore through or stuffy or runny nose; if they’ve recently traveled internationally; or if they’ve been near a sick person who has recently traveled internationally. If the answer is yes to any of those questions, they are asked to refrain from visiting.
Traditions at Brookside said it’s also having visitors complete questionnaires and is closely monitoring visitors and staff for coronavirus symptoms. The facility added it’s frequently disinfecting common areas and educating staff on infection control practices as well.
Stop signs are posted on the entrances at Greenfield Healthcare Center that direct visitors to read a posted letter from its parent company, CommuniCare, requesting guests to refrain from visiting residents. Visitation may be granted to those whose loved ones are in hospice care, the letter continues, adding those guests should contact the facility’s executive director.
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Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:
- Older adults
- People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Lung disease
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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There is currently no vaccine to prevent infection with the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to the virus.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases.
The following symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
Call your doctor if you…
Develop symptoms and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19
OR
Have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Indiana COVID-19 data as of 11:59 p.m. March 15
Total positive cases: 24
Total deaths: 1
Total tested by Indiana State Department of Health: 139
Positive cases by county
- Adams: 1
- Bartholomew: 1
- Boone: 1
- Floyd: 1
- Hamilton: 1
- Hendricks: 3
- Howard: 2
- Johnson: 3
- LaPorte: 1
- Marion: 7
- Noble: 1
- St. Joseph: 1
- Wells: 1
Source: Indiana State Department of Health
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