The mandated social isolation to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 that has been put into place in nursing homes across the nation has side effects. A social worker and program director of the Referral Education Assistance and Prevention (REAP) program offered to older adults through the New Hampshire Center for Life Management described the effect that social isolation can have on older adults ―
“We do know that social isolation can have the same impact as some of our chronic diseases, cardiac issues. It complicates disease, and it can actually be painful for some clients who already have some baseline depression or anxiety.”
To address the negative effects social isolation is having on its residents, a New Hampshire nursing home reached out to its community, asking people to write letters to the residents. After people at a county healthcare center responded so positively, the call for participants was expanded to anyone willing to write letters. That expansion has resulted in letters from people in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont.
A spokesman from the nursing home reported, “It’s just gotten bigger than we expected it to, but it’s wonderful. The residents really look forward to getting the letters.”
The director of the REAP program assisting persons over age 60 expressed concern that without anyone checking in on older adults, they will stop taking care of themselves. She commended the pen pal program and was outspoken in her effort to encourage people to get involved. She suggested that it could have a very powerful effect if, “every morning one of us said, who am I reaching out to today?”
Because of its success, the center plans to continue the pen pal program after the pandemic is over.
Compliance Perspective
Mandated social isolation due to the COVID-19 crisis, while helping to prevent the spread of infection among nursing home residents, may exacerbate the medical conditions of residents (e.g., chronic diseases, cardiac issues, depression, and anxiety) and presents a challenge for nursing homes to provide the quality of life and quality of care for residents, while providing infection prevention and control.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures for providing quality of care, quality of life, freedom from abuse and neglect, and infection control and consider ways to bridge the gaps caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
- Train staff to be aware of the negative effects social isolation may have on residents and to work with social service and activities staff to develop interventions to address these gaps.
- Periodically audit by surveying residents to determine if social service and activities interventions are meeting their needs while following guidelines for social distancing.
