Still Sheltered in Place: Nursing Home Residents Struggle Through COVID-19 Isolation

When Governor Kay Ivey’s “Safe at Home” orders were lifted on May 1, most Alabamians jumped at the opportunity to wander back out into society and re-connect with family and friends. Some people returned to work, lunches were shared at restaurants and some churches even resumed services. For nursing home residents, however, a life of relative isolation continued.

“Not a single one of our residents at Oak Park or at the EAMC-Lanier Nursing Home have tested positive, and for that, we are very grateful,” says Laura Grill, EAMC president and CEO. “However, they have benefitted very little from the less restrictive orders because COVID-19 is still a very real threat. In fact, the virus is more widespread now than it was when the ‘Safe at Home’ orders were lifted.”

Grill says residents at the two facilities, as well as at other nursing homes, long for more attention. “For 18 weeks now, they have had very limited interaction with family members. And they have not been able to socialize much, if any, with other nursing home residents.”

Eve Milner, VP of Clinical Services, echoes the concern felt by Grill. “This is all very confusing to the residents,” she says. “While many are over 80 years of age, none of them have ever lived through a pandemic. Some cannot understand why family members don’t visit the way they used to. We do Facetime visits and patio visits when possible. And our employees do a great job of visiting with residents one-on-one, but it’s just not the same as having a family member come visit.”

Gary Smith says the isolation his 78-year-old mother, Betty Ray, is experiencing is taking a toll. “She’s down, and she’s easily agitated,” he says. “We have done Facetime and seen her through the window at Oak Park, but it’s definitely not the same. The isolation has definitely impacted her. She wishes we could come get her and take her home so we could visit together and cook out. She’s just so lonely right now.”

At the EAMC-Lanier Nursing Home, Brenda Bolt is one of the 91 residents. She’s also a former Operating Room director at Lanier. Her niece, Denise Clark, says her family misses visiting Brenda in her room. “Part of the reason we chose Lanier Nursing Home is because she used to work there,” she states.

Clark said they were hopeful that Brenda, 76, would be able to see familiar faces from the hospital, but the pandemic has prevented such visitation. Clark said she is thankful, however, for the staff at the nursing home. “Every time I have reached out with questions, they have been very helpful”

When residents do receive an in-room visit, it’s from a nursing home employee, and every interaction involves a mask. “This is their home,” says Milner. “Our employees wear a mask and the residents wear a mask. They don’t fight us on wearing a mask because they know it’s their last line of defense against this deadly virus.”