LIVING FACILITIES ACROSS THE
STATE ARE CLAMPING DOWN ON
VISITORS IN ORDER TO PREVENT
CORONAVIRUS.
NEW GUIDELINES NOW INCLUDE
SCREENING ALL INDIVIDUALS,
INCLUDING HEALTH CARE WORKERS,
CONSULTANTS AND VISITORS BEFORE
THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENTER
THOSE FACILITIES.
MARISA WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH JOHN
VANDERMERE, PRESIDENT OF THE
WISCONSIN HEALTH CARE
ASSOCIATION AND WISCONSIN WISCONSIN CENTER
FOR ASSISTED LIVING TO HEAR WHAT
MEASURES FACILITIES ARE TAKING.
>> WE'RE ADVISING OUR MEMBERS TO
DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO
PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF
THE RESIDENTS THAT WE SERVE.
SO OUR MEMBER FACILITIES ARE
ENGAGING IN A COUPLE OF CRITICAL
PRACTICES.
FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE LIMITING
VISITATIONS OF ALL VISITORS TO A
FACILITY.
ANY VISITORS THAT DO ACTUALLY GO
INTO THE FACILITY, THEY'RE
MAKING SURE THAT THEY WASH THEIR
HANDS AND THAT THERE ARE
SCREENING PRACTICES IN PLACE OF
THOSE VISITORS.
THAT THERE'S A RESTRICTION ON
LARGE GROUPS IN THOSE FACILITIES
TO ENACT SOME SOCIAL DISTANCING.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY I THINK WHEN
YOU'RE DEALING WITH A VULNERABLE
POPULATION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INDIVIDUALS
HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR FAMILIES.
SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT OUR
FACILITIES AND OUR FACILITIES
ARE ADOPTING PRACTICES TO ENSURE
THAT FACETIME AND REMOTE
CONFERENCING OPTIONS ARE
AVAILABLE TO ENSURE THAT
RESIDENTS STILL MAINTAIN THAT
PSYCHOSOCIAL CONNECTION WITH
THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S VERY
IMPORTANT TO REALIZE IN THIS SET
OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE PANDEMIC
IS THE ISSUE OF THE MORBIDITY
RATES AMONG THE ELDERLY.
SO IT COULD BE 15% AND HIGHER IN
THE EVENT THAT TESTING IS
NECESSARY FROM A CLINICAL
STANDPOINT, WE'RE DOING
EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN AT THE
STATE LEVEL AND THE INDIVIDUAL
FACILITY LEVEL AND THE PROVIDER
COMMUNITY TO WORK WITH STATE
OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S
TESTING AVAILABLE.
>> THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS
COMMISSION LATE THIS WEEK
DECIDED TO ALLOW MUNICIPAL
CLERKS WITH GUIDANCE OF LOCAL
HEALTH OFFICIALS TO RELOCATE
POLLING PLACES CURRENTLY SLATED
TO BE IN NURSING HOMES AND OTHER
FACILITIES WHERE PUBLIC HEALTH
IS A CONCERN.
THE COMMISSION ALSO DIRECTED
MIEW
MUNICIPAL CLERKS TO MAIL
ABSENTEE BALLOTS DIRECTLY TO
RESIDENTS IN NURSING HOMES
INSTEAD OF DISPATCHING TEAMS OF
SPECIAL