Staying Connected Is Crucial For Nursing Home Residents and Families

With nearly half of all deaths in Texas related to COVID-19 occurring among nursing home residents and staff, advocates at AARP Texas are encouraging those with loved ones in long-term care facilities to check regularly on the loved ones’ health and wellbeing.

“Staying connected is one of the most important things they can do,” said Amanda Fredriksen, an associate state director of advocacy & outreach at AARP Texas during a recent Facebook Live broadcast. “Picking up the phone. Doing window visits. Staying connected is important.”

State officials also recognize the importance of communication between nursing home residents and family members during the pandemic. Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that Texas will make available $3.6 million to help facilities purchase computer tablets and other technology to support virtual visits.

AARP Texas Director Tina Tran said the nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy for older persons has, for months now, been persuading local, state and federal leaders to prioritize the needs of residents and staff of long-term care facilities. She said that’s included a push for more COVID-19 testing, deploying adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, and insisting on transparency around what’s happening in the facilities.

“AARP Texas will continue making this a top priority,” Tran said. “This is a long-term advocacy issue for us.”

Tran and Fredriksen also discussed during the broadcast what steps family members can take when a care facility isn’t responsive to inquiries about their loved ones’ wellbeing.

“It’s best to start with the facility and give them a chance to address the concerns,” Fredriksen said. “But if that doesn’t happen, move on to the Long Term Care Ombudsman. It’s their job to help family members.”

The Texas Long Term Care Ombudsman can be reached by phone at 800-252-2412.

Another option and next step would be to reach a hotline number for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission at 800-458-9850.

The contacts can be reached whether it’s about a loved one in a nursing home or other types of long-term care facilities, including assisted living, adult day care, and hospice, Fredriksen said.

AARP also has a number of resources available, including information at: www.aarp.org/nursinghomes

Fredriksen spotlighted an AARP article about whether one should take a loved one out of a nursing home during the pandemic. The article can be found here: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/basics/info-2020/remove-from-nursing-home.html?fbclid=IwAR2RSbnlwv04w3ewoXdEp4quQymF7oo3F5KzWjeyUcWzBUGDeev3GkbiPyE