Nursing homes working to keep residents safe amid COVID-19

Local nursing homes are buckling down on restrictions after weeks of the COVID-19 virus affecting the nation.

Dr. Katie Blalock visits with patients at five different nursing homes around the Brazos Valley.

"We have limited the visitation to just medically essential personnel. We are just trying to limit the people going into the facility that could bring this illness or any other illness with them,” said Dr. Blalock.

Dr. Blalock says they are also monitoring every employee’s temperature when they walk into the facility and checking the residents for symptoms multiple times a day.

She says if a resident has symptoms in line with COVID-19, they are put into isolation.

"Trying to limit big groups in the dining room as well. Making sure the utensils that are used are more single served and not communal,” Dr. Blalock said.

Even with these new restrictions, Duane Faltysek knew he still had to celebrate his father’s birthday. Ernest Faltysek, or, “Mr. Ernest" turned 92 on Tuesday in Bryan.

The family set up for a party to be celebrated Sunday, but these new rules stopped them from their original plan.

"I think each birthday is special to still be around in your family so we weren't about to let this offset us,” said Faltysek.

So, the entire family, grandkids, in-laws, and children gathered around Mr. Ernest’s first-floor bedroom with cake, they opened the window and sang Happy Birthday.

"We decided to go ahead and have the birthday on the outside and he celebrated his birthday inside,” said Faltysek.

For the Faltysek family, they did not want this virus to stand in the way of spending quality time with the patriarch of their family.

Dr. Blalock says nursing homes are working to do the same for other residents by having them video chat with family.

“I know that it is incredibly difficult for the families to be separated but thankfully we live in an age where we have a lot of different options with technology,” said Dr. Blalock.

AUSTIN – To protect older, medically fragile individuals from COVID-19, Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued updated, expanded guidance to nursing homes that now includes restricting facility access to staff, certain medical professionals, and other providers of essential services.

“At the direction of Governor Greg Abbott and effective immediately, we are now requiring nursing facilities to prevent non-essential visitors from access given the significant health and safety risk to residents posed by COVID-19,” said David Kostroun, HHS deputy executive commissioner for Regulatory Services. “These measures are precautionary and based on the state disaster declaration made by Governor Abbott, as well as new federal guidance.”

Until further notice, nursing facilities are encouraged to use alternate means of communication such as FaceTime, Skype, or other video or audio systems for residents to maintain contact with family and friends. “We understand how difficult these new restrictions will be for residents and their families and loved ones,” Kostroun said. “First and foremost, we must all share the goal of protecting the people who are proving to be most vulnerable to this new virus.”

Nursing facilities must also implement screening protocols for anyone entering their facility. They must screen staff, medical professionals, and other essential visitors for COVID-19 using guidelines issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Only under certain compassionate care situations, such as a resident’s end-of-life, can non-essential visitors be allowed in a nursing facility, and the facility must follow all CMS protocols.

Texas HHS is working closely with the Office of the Governor, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the Texas Department of Emergency Management, and other state and federal agencies to monitor and assess the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S.

Additionally, HHSC staff are conducting targeted inspections of facilities with a history of infection control deficiencies in the previous three years.

Long-term care facilities in Texas are required to maintain strong infection prevention and control programs to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. If a facility believes a resident, visitor, or employee might have been exposed or infected with COVID-19, it is required to immediately report it to their local health department or to DSHS.

Texas HHS is also requiring facilities to post signs at the entrance about access restrictions; check for fever of visitors, staff, and residents; suspend group gatherings; continue to monitor and isolate residents with fever or acute respiratory symptoms; provide infection control training to staff; execute frequent handwashing; and provide personal protective equipment to residents or staff as needed. For more information, visit the CDC’s site.

During this rapidly evolving situation, the agency will be issuing updated and additional infection control guidance for other licensed entities such as general and psychiatric hospitals, child care operations, and long-term care facilities. Providers are encouraged to stay up-to-date on the latest guidance by visiting the Texas HHS COVID‑19 page.

Texas HHS licenses and regulates 1,222 nursing facilities throughout the state.