This month, we’re looking at the senior living coronavirus concern and the impact it’s having on communities.
1. Everything You Need to Know About Senior Living Coronavirus Concerns
The coronavirus outbreak is a health and safety concern for all of us. But as recent media reports have shown, older adults are at even greater risk than the rest of the population.
“The overwhelming weight of serious disease and mortality is in people who are elderly as well as those with comorbidities,” explained Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Learn everything you need to know about the senior living coronavirus concern in this Forbes article.
2. Best Practices for Communicating About COVID-19
Given that COVID-19 cases have proven to be more fatal for older adults, residents and their families will want to know how your organization is managing the senior living coronavirus concern. You should be taking steps to communicate your plan before cases appear in your community, as well as in the event that they do.
Get more insights on best practices for communicating about COVID-19 in this article from McKnight’s Senior Living.
3. How Close Is COVID-19 to America’s Senior Living Communities?
There are roughly 33,000 senior living communities in the U.S., and almost 53% of them are located in or near counties with at least one confirmed case of COVID-19. Whether your community is included in this 53% or not, the recommendation from industry professionals is to prepare for the possibility of the senior living coronavirus risk being at or near your community.
See the facts and figures related to the coronavirus and its proximity to senior living communities on Senior Housing News.
4. The Mental Effects of COVID-19 on Seniors
We continue to hear about the toll COVID-19 can have on those affected by the virus, especially older adults. But what about the mental health effects? Should family members be concerned that loneliness will have a more lasting impact on their loved ones living in senior living communities than the coronavirus?
This New York Times articles looks at senior living coronavirus concerns from a different perspective.
5. COVID-19 a Test in Preparedness for Senior Living Communities
COVID-19 is causing senior living operators to reevaluate the ways in which they prepare for health concerns, especially the flu. While some communities are scrambling to put a plan against the coronavirus in place, others have set themselves apart by addressing the issue quickly and having a plan should the virus impact their communities directly.
This article from Bisnow details how the coronavirus has become a litmus test for senior housing.