SARASOTA – Amidst growing fears of a coronavirus outbreak in Florida several assisted living facilities are taking extra precautions to keep the most vulnerable to the virus… healthy and safe.
“Those who are elderly, those who are immunosuppressant, under lying health care conditions those are the folks we need to protect,” said Luke Neumann.
With Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issuing a state of emergency to stop the spread of coronavirus within the state, several nursing homes are taking necessary precautions to take care of some of the most susceptible to the virus. Neumann, Vice President for Palm Garden Health Care, says his facilities have changed their guidelines to protect their staff and patients.
“This situation has evolved and we’ve taken a proactive, I would say aggressive approach, in protecting our elders,” said Neumann.
Neumann says as of Monday they have limited visitation to their patients, amplified hand-washing stations, and test and monitor their staff to keep everyone at bay at all their facilities in the state. Neumann says communicating with patients and their loved is one of the ways to keep panic down amid growing fears of the virus and to trust the staff to take care of our loved ones.
“Stay calm and remember that we have a job to do and it’s to protect their, grandma and grandpa; their mom and dad, and the best way to do that is social distancing,” said Neumann.
Neumann says Palm Garden facilities have added virtual visits between their patients and their loved ones via Skype, Facetime, and are bringing computers to their patients room to make the time spent alone in isolation a little less lonelier for all.
