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Battling COVID-19 in nursing homes

Gaston Gazette - 9/28/2020

While a report released by state health officials this week shows more new coronavirus cases at White Oak Manor Kings Mountain, the nursing home's administrator said the spread of COVID-19 in the facility is on a steady decline.

Nursing homes across the state submit constant reports to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services regarding COVID-19 testing. While a statewide report is released twice a week, Stacy Sanford said those numbers don't give the full picture of what's happening inside nursing homes.

Sanford is the administrator at White Oak Manor in Kings Mountain. According to the most recent state report, the nursing home has had 174 people test positive for coronavirus during the pandemic. Twenty-three residents have died.

Reality behind the report

The total number of infections is up six people from two weeks ago, according to the report, but because the information is outdated, it's not accurate, Sanford said.

Sanford said she has not had a resident test positive since Aug. 31. One employee tested positive on Sept. 17, according to Sanford.

During this stage of the pandemic, North Carolina nursing homes are required to test residents and staff at least once a week. Sanford said she takes testing at her facility a step further. Anyone who steps foot in her building gets tested.

Visitors have not been allowed in the Kings Mountain property for months, but physicians and contract health care workers do come in for treatment of patients. If any of those people test positive, those numbers are reflected in the report as cases at her property, Sanford said.

Time in isolation

Regardless of where the numbers fall, each one represents a life, and caring for those vulnerable patients during a time of such strict isolation takes determination, compassion and creativity, Sanford said.

Instead of meeting in communal rooms for activities, residents are having activities brought to their rooms.

Rather than visiting family face-to-face, residents are being shown how to use tablets to video chat with loved ones.

"My residents, they want to be able to get their life back," Sanford said. We're trying to protect them. They're not getting to see their loved ones."

Light on the horizon

Sanford commended the healthcare workers for battling through the long days and sleepless nights.

She also highlighted the uplifting gestures they've received. Just this week, some people at the Cleveland County Courthouse sent over a gift basket. Cards have come in from nursing homes up and down the East Coast.

Those words of encouragement go a long way and counteract some of the finger pointing that has occurred during the pandemic, Sanford said.

After a long journey, Sanford said she is hopeful that her employees and residents have seen the worst of it. Her most recent tally would point to a brighter road ahead.

Diane Turbyfill can be reached at 704-669-3334 and Twitter.com/ShelbyStarDiane.

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(c)2020 Gaston Gazette, Gastonia, N.C.

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