Are elderly people more susceptible to infection at nursing homes or assisted living in their own homes?
I’m considering taking my grandpa to a nursing home since no one could visit him and help out during the lockdown but I need to consider his health and conditions before making a decision
Answers ( 1 )
A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) or Assisted Living Facility (ALF) are both what is deemed "communal living"- meaning lots of other people around all the time. Living at home, with assistance- called Home Health, usually- is a more closed-to-others setting. So, technically, at home with Home Health should be safer-from-infection to the person.
Of course, there's a challenge: The Home Health worker leaves every day and who knows where s/he goes? To a grocery store? The Mall? A crowded gathering at a cafe? And what germies is s/he bringing back? This is called a Community Acquired Infection. .And how good is this caregiver at recognizing S/S (signs and symptoms) of incipient illness?
That's one good thing about the higher level of care found in a SNF: Most Residents have vitals taken two to three times a day- after all, they are in a SNF because they need that level of nursing care. If the Nurse in charge is on his or her toes, a slight change in vitals over the course of 12 or 24 hours could indicate maybe taking a closer look at the person.
So really, it doesn't matter which level of care you choose, health-wise, as long as the caregiver/s are good, and, the most important step, everyone follows Infection Control Protocols (ICP). Wash hands- obsessively. Wear gloves- pretty much all the time. Wear a disposable mask if within another person's "bubble". Home or facility, if good ICP are in place and followed, it is far less likely community acquired infections can occur.
If you are still unable to decide, go with your Grandfather to his next doctor's appointment, and ask the doctor. That is the person who can most accurately determine the level of care your loved one needs.
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