Getting Good Long Term Care In A Pandemic

What does the concept of “good long term care” mean to you? 

If the time has come to find suitable care for yourself or a loved one, you might be pondering this question a lot lately. And when a global pandemic is thrown into the mix, your answer as to what good care means probably doesn’t change too much. That’s because on many levels, caring for people is simple: it’s just looking after them with loving care.

In times like these where so much is uncertain, one would expect long term care facilities to really step it up in the “loving care” department, providing even more support for their residents and families. It’s worth mentioning that often they do. They make the effort to partner with their clients to get through this together. But some facilities don’t seem to be rising to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

If you are concerned that your long term care facility may be one of the latter, or you just want to educate yourself, this blog is for you. We’re looking at a few areas to pay close attention to, and ways to hold the facility accountable for their actions if necessary. 

One of the most important documents in the patient/provider relationship is always the Admission Agreement. Whether you are looking for long term care or trying to figure out what to do about the care you are receiving, the Admission Agreement is typically where the majority of patient rights and facility responsibilities are laid out. It’s important to be familiar with this document and keep it handy as it will likely be referenced often.

Good Long Term Care – Visitation

An in-person visit is a big deal when a family member is in long term care. The isolation can be hard on everyone, but by putting a date on the calendar, there is something to look forward to. Of course, the pandemic put many of us in a great state of concern about social distancing and masking up. Is it wise to see each other at all, even if we stay six feet apart? 

Caring for the well-being of their residents is at the core of what long term care facilities do, so it’s imperative that they do everything possible to make reasonable accommodations for these all-important visits. But some facilities have severely limited or stopped visitation altogether, which often runs counter to the Admission Agreement. It also puts a heavy emotional burden on families.

In some states, like California, allowing outdoor visitation is mandatory. As long as everyone is socially distanced, the visit is scheduled ahead of time, and everyone is wearing masks, facilities are required to accommodate visits and the risks involved. Local public health orders may supersede this, but as a general rule, facilities must make every effort to allow visits.

People who live in Continuing Care Retirement Communities, also known as CCRCs, are by definition people who live independently. They are not subject to restrictions on visitation at all, but sometimes get lumped in with long term care residents. If you think you are entitled to visitation because you live in a CCRC, check your Admission Agreement.

Activities And Outings In A Pandemic

Resident outings and activities are a tough topic. There is inherent risk in leaving the facility and interacting with the world. There is also a risk in returning to the facility with unknown pathogens. So, many facilities have simply furloughed activities which is not the right answer. Unless activities requirements are prohibited by local law, facilities are expected to get creative with entertainment ideas for their residents. That doesn’t seem to be the case in some places, and as you might expect, residents indicate that they are quite bored.

“Short staffing” is often cited as the reason for either disallowing visitation or for not offering interesting activities to take part in. This isn’t good care, and hints and their overall inability to care properly for their residents. If you are being told they are too short-staffed to provide the agreed-upon level of care, begin by taking the complaint to upper management. Don’t be shy about moving on to the regulatory agencies in your area if necessary.

Getting Good Long Term Care – Evictions

With the COVID-19 epidemic still in full swing, evictions from long term care facilities are on the rise. Why is this happening? There are a few different factors at play, and this is one place you’ll definitely benefit from knowing the Admissions Agreement backward and forward.

What is cohorting? 

The practice known as “cohorting” is when a large chain of facilities moves residents to one designated facility that will house all people affected by an issue, in this case COVID-19. They literally remove residents from their homes and put them in an altogether different location.

Though many states have placed a moratorium on evictions, there is strong evidence of cohorting and of facilities simply not accepting new patients for reasons that are suspect. There have also been reports of facilities downplaying or trying to hide the fact that they have known cases of COVID-19 on their premises.

If you think that you or a loved one are being evicted for unlawful reasons, the smartest thing to do is start by going through management and leadership at the facility. If no answers are forthcoming, engage the regulatory agency in your state. Getting the word out in the media is a fantastic way to gain leverage. The local news can be especially effective. There is a lot of interest in long term care stories, so you may be able to get some quality attention on your case with the help of local media.

Communication With Facilities Amidst A Pandemic

Do not accept poor communication from your long term care provider. Write down all of your frustrations and requests for improvement… never simply phone them in. This has always been good advice, but it’s true now more than ever. 

At least 18 states have already ensured some level of legal immunity for nursing homes and long term care facilities, either through laws or governors’ orders. As of mid-May, industry groups had begun in at least 10 other states to secure similar protections.

So be fastidious with your communication and as informed as you can about your rights. 

If you find that you are making no headway within the facility, get the government involved. Google your state and local representatives and start making some noise. And remember: do not ever phone in a complaint, always write. Create an indisputable timeline in case you ever need to present it to an arbitrator or judge.

Good Long Term Care Includes Honest Billing

Do not accept poor communication from your long term care provider. Write down all of your frustrations and requests for improvement… never simply phone them in. This has always been good advice, but it’s true now more than ever. 

At least 18 states have already ensured some level of legal immunity for nursing homes and long term care facilities, either through laws or governors’ orders. As of mid-May, industry groups had begun in at least 10 other states to secure similar protections.

So be fastidious with your communication and as informed as you can about your rights. 

If you find that you are making no headway within the facility, get the government involved. Google your state and local representatives and start making some noise. And remember: do not ever phone in a complaint, always write. Create an indisputable timeline in case you ever need to present it to an arbitrator or judge.

Getting Good Care In A Pandemic – The Bottom Line

The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything. We have found ourselves living in a new kind of reality. But that doesn’t make it OK for anyone, especially care providers, to roll back the quality of service that they provide, or attempt to take advantage of the situation just to keep their investors happy. Getting the quality care that you and your loved ones deserve may come down to knowing your rights and asserting yourself. 

The first step is to get up close and personal with the Admission Agreement. Understand every part of it, and then do what you must to be heard. It’s likely that you’re not the only one experiencing the issue, so put everything in writing and keep at it. 

The push for good long term care isn’t just for you, it’s for those who come after you too.

If it’s your first time visiting us and you’d like to find out more about who we are and what we do, start here.