By Gigi Acevedo-Parker
A “pandemic of despair” is how one health organization describes what COVID-19 has set off among older citizens, especially those who live in a senior care setting.
It’s not just seniors’ heightened vulnerability to the virus itself that puts their emotional health at risk. It’s the environment being created as we attempt to control its spread that is especially problematic. As everyone’s life has been turned upside down, those in senior care have been largely confined to their rooms, with no visitors allowed, and family interactions mainly limited to video or voice calls or with windows between them. They are afraid, anxious and depressed. For those suffering from issues like dementia, the isolation is compounded by confusion over changes, like caregivers rendered unrecognizable by personal protective equipment.
Recognizing declines in the older adult mental health must be at the forefront of concerns for senior home operators. There is a well-established correlation between mental and physical health. Left unaddressed, declining mental health results in negative physical health outcomes. Frontline staff must be educated about the risks, encouraged to intervene and ensure the necessary resources are utilized to help. Here are some recommendations:
Work with staff to stay on top of cues that might signal issues.
Generally speaking, residents with declining mental health may become more withdrawn, less engaged, and preoccupied with television, particularly with issues concerning the pandemic. When they have opportunities to interact outside of their rooms, they may decline.
In a group setting, the staff knows the residents and can usually tell when behaviors or attitudes are off. Some settings, like supportive apartment residences, are inherently less well-equipped to identify these issues. That makes education on signs and, importantly, identifying opportunities to observe, key.
Another issue is recognizing cues in those with issues like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Here, exhibiting a totally unusual behavior, like a normally docile person physically striking out, can signal there’s more going on.
Be ready to bring in the right resources.
It’s the resident’s medical provider – or primary care practitioner – who the staff must alert to the issue. This is the best person to address next steps or treatments and who is best suited to step in. Any number of specialists may be tapped to intervene, and the residential setting will likely influence this decision. For example, for assisted living in the home, psychiatric home health nurses have advanced degrees and certifications and are trained to treat emotional illness as well as physical.
It’s also worth noting that with the pandemic, telemedicine has become increasingly utilized. That makes it invaluable as a safe and immediate way to address the older adult mental health crises (along with physical issues) that could be as dangerous for seniors as the coronavirus itself.
As the pandemic continues to stretch out, so is the risk of the continuing decline in the emotional health of many of our seniors. Many senior living homes are slowly reopening, focusing on balancing everyone’s health and safety against the virus. They also should be encouraged to make everyone’s mental health and safety part of that mix, including sorely needed activities to stimulate their residents and encourage them to re-engage again.
HUB International’s team of senior care specialists work with your organization to deliver tailored insurance and risk management solutions. Our team also includes professionals in clinical risk management who can assist facilities in development of appropriate strategies to better manage care of their residents.
Get the latest information, guidance and resources on Coronavirus (COVID-19) to help you protect what matters most on our Coronavirus Resource Center. You can also learn more about mental health resources during COVID-19 here!