Health

HE A LTH • Fall 2020 9 cases, without financial support, facili- ties are unable to provide bonuses and premiums to frontline workers. "To stabilize the nursing facility workforce, it is essential that the Commonwealth's MassHealth program continues to provide facilities with the resources," Gregorio said. "To offer a premium hero's pay to our caregivers, while also ensuring their safety through the consistent availability of personal protective equipment." At Massachusetts Senior Care Alliance, Gregorio said the alliance is finding financially burdened pools of workers and giving as much financial incentives as it can to existing staff. The alliance is working with the legislature and administration to help modernize the reimbursement system in order to strengthen nursing facilities. "The COVID pandemic hit the nurs- ing facility sector at a particularly vul- nerable time," he said. "As the Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis, an indepen- dent state agency, has documented that more than half of nursing facilities are operating on negative budgets." Jeffrey Kinney, chief of staff and external relations at Worcester non- profit Ascentria Care Alliance, which owns three skilled nursing facilities, said nursing home staff are some of the lowest paid in the economy. "Nursing homes in Massachusetts and in many other states have been chroni- cally underfunded for years," Kinney said. "Which results in [skilled nursing facilities] not being able to raise wages in a competitive work environment." Kinney sees an opportunity for legis- latures to increase wages for frontline workers at an economically sustainable level, as well as making appropriate reimbursement rate changes. Fighting senior isolation "Since the care and safety of our resi- dents has been and will continue to be our primary focus," Kinney said, "we have had to significantly alter our pro- cedures in order to reduce risk. Unfortunately, that has led to unavoid- able social isolation of our residents." During the age of the coronavirus pandemic, senior citizens increasingly battle health concerns, restrictions and isolations. This concern has resulted in an emphasis on creative ways of keep- ing elders connected with family. "We have tried to ease that burden by providing new creative ways to engage residents with socially distanced activi- ties, tablets for easier communication with family and friends, and seek to provide ongoing updates to family members about current conditions at each facility," Kinney said. Gow highlights the importance of recognizing the harmful effects of iso- lation and lack of routine for seniors. "The isolation, the boredom, loneli- ness, and a lack of routine is a big thing, and a lack of physical contact due to the social distancing protocols," Gow said. "I would say the solutions would be to try and find a way to engage with oth- ers, and continue to stimulate your mind, and to socialize and engage with the community even if it's online." Waters compares the isolation seniors face to the effects of smoking 15 cigarettes per day, and makes special efforts to reassure those most anxious and vulnerable. She said the Worcester Senior Center staff is assisted in this effort by UMass Medical School stu- dents in Worcester, who enjoy serving as senior buddies, calling them weekly. "Hopefully many people in Worcester are also talking with their family, friends, neighbors and whoever can offer and receive positive atten- tion," Waters said. "With hugs needing to remain virtual for the most part, we all need to reach out at a distance. "Needless to say, most people are remarkably resilient," Waters said. "Everyone is worthy of the best quality of life, even when special efforts are required." Mass. coronavirus cases, deaths and hospitalizations, by age group Massachusetts residents 80 and older are very disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. DON'T PUT YOUR HEALTH ON HOLD. Reach out today, call 855-UMASS-MD or visit umassmemorial.org/appointment As we resume our services, we understand that you may have concerns about coming to our locations, but when waiting can mean much worse, trust that you are safe at UMass Memorial. Led by the CDC and our own COVID task force, we've implemented the following changes: + Virtual visit options + Universal masking + Screenings upon arrival + Hand sanitizer stations + Social distancing + Stringent cleaning practices + Increased touch-free processes H Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Rates per 100,000 Age group Cases 0-19 478 20s 1,748 30s 2,049 40s 2,018 50s 1,967 60s 1,846 70s 2,077 80s and older 5,335 Deaths 0 2 4 11 32 108 395 1,886 Hospitalizations 8 31 64 102 160 281 539 1,278

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