Worcester Business Journal

6 Worcester Business Journal | April 12, 2021 | wbjournal.com F rom the start of the coronavi- rus pandemic, long-term care facilities and nursing homes were in a precarious spot, car- ing for many of their commu- nities' highest-risk residents. ey were dealt a disproportionate brunt of the pandemic, with at least 990 deaths at such facilities in Worces- ter County, or 45% of all deaths in the county, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. eir residents were long forced into isolation and their workers at high risk of catching the virus themselves. Now, about a year aer cases reached their initial peak locally last spring, these care facilities are starting to see long-awaited signs of post-pandemic life, with residents and staff largely vaccinated and loosened state restrictions now al- lowing for some gatherings and in-per- son visits from family. "We've come a long way," said Vin Librandi, the COO of Worcester's Jewish Healthcare Center, a facility including assisted living, hospice, long-term care and other facilities. e Jewish Healthcare Center was among the area's hardest hit facilities ear- ly in the pandemic. Early last April, when Facilities without COVID deaths Sixteen Worcester County long- term care facilities have reported no COVID-19 fatalities more than a year into the pandemic. Early rebound toward normalcy Long-term care facilities, once coronavirus hotspots, are now among the first to ease into post-pandemic life BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor Worcester County's case total was a little over 100 – it's more than 70,000 today – the center made headlines for having three residents die from the virus. At the time, such a total at once was unusual. Like hospitals and other health cen- ters, long-term care facilities and nursing homes quickly went into lockdown. Vis- itors weren't allowed – even sometimes in a patient's last moments. at le an already burdened staff to act as close to family as could be. "Our staff became their families," Librandi said. Turning the corner A year later, 22 long-term care facili- ties in Worcester County have recorded 20 or more coronavirus deaths. Facil- ities are still required to test their staff every other week and report results to the state, despite nearly everyone being vaccinated. Finally, though, better days are ahead. Most Department of Public Health restrictions are still in place, such as both patients and visitors wearing facial cov- erings and keeping distance for most of the visit, as well as visitors having passed a screening. But in mid-March, the state allowed for the first time since the pandemic began in earnest for visitors to make physical contact with their loved ones, at last allowing hugs once given up for the sake of social distancing. "at's huge," Jackie Carey, the assis- tant administrator at Applewood Home for Elders in Athol, said of allowing physical embraces again. As a sign of just how seriously state health leaders continue to take the pan- demic, even those hugs retain a few more restrictions: Faces must be in opposite directions, and hand sanitizer has to be used before and aer. "We're still very cautious," said Brenda Turner, the manager of Lincoln Hill Manor in Spencer, a rest home and as- sisted living facility. "It's working for us. We've been very fortunate." Applewood Home for Elders, a 32-bed facility that's yet to report a coronavirus death, is staying strict, too. It allows 30-minute visits in its conference room, sanitizing between each one. With residents still unable to go out much, those visits are critical to their mental wellbeing, Carey said. Kate Columbus, the nursing director at the Jewish Healthcare Center, agreed. Patients' mental toll was clear, she said. "Some haven't seen their family in a year," Columbus said. For a time, she added, it was even more restrictive. "Not only were they isolated from their families, they were also isolated from each other." Vaccinations driving progress What's allowing for looser restrictions now is simple: Nearly all patients and staff at such facilities are vaccinated, with a small number of exceptions made for religious or health reasons. Older resi- dents and those with certain health risks were prioritized for vaccines. More than 332,000 state residents 75 or older are fully vaccinated, and another 305,000 who are 65 or older, according to the DPH. Another nearly 289,000 be- tween those two age groups have received COVID vaccinations, by age Massachusetts residents 65 and older are most likely to have already gotten a COVID-19 vaccine, with the oldest age segments even more likely. The percent of each population total that has received at least one dose: Age Worcester segment County Massachusetts 0-19 1% 2% 20-29 17% 21% 30-39 25% 29% 40-49 28% 32% 50-59 33% 38% 60-64 47% 52% 65-69 70% 75% 70-74 75% 78% 75-plus 81% 82% Total 29% 33% Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health Applewood - A Home For Elders, Athol 32 Brook Haven Assisted Living, West Brookfield 34 Caldwell Home - Extended Care, Fitchburg 28 Charlton Manor Rest Home 32 Dalton Rest Home, Worcester 34 Donna Kay Rest Home, Worcester 60 Homestead Hall, Worcester 32 Lanessa Extended Care, Webster 96 Lincoln Hill Manor, Spencer 30 Oasis at Dodge Park, Worcester 82 Penny Lane, Fitchburg 26 Pleasant Acres Rest Home, Worcester 14 Village Rest Home, Leominster 25 Whittier Westborough Transitional Care Unit 19 The Willows at Worcester 28 Winter Hill Rest Home, Worcester 15 Facility Number of beds Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health (As of April 1) A group of residents at the Jewish Healthcare Center in Worcester play "You Be the Judge." Activities Director Patti Furmanick is gathered with residents (from left) Neil Cohen, Fran Jacobs, Lillian Goff and Helene Kent. PHOTOS/EDD COTE

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