Restrictions and suspension of use of new corona nursing facilities Many places still continue October 5, 4:02
The effects of the new coronavirus are protracted in long-term care facilities.
According to a survey conducted by experts at facilities, nearly 30% of respondents answered that "use restrictions" and "pauses" are still ongoing, and nearly 40% of short stays. I understand.
More than four months after the state of emergency was lifted, usage restrictions continue, and experts point out that "the burden on the person and family is increasing."
This survey was conducted by Professor Yasuhiro Yuki of Shukutoku University last month via the Internet for day service staff, care managers, and other people working in the nursing care field, and more than 600 responded.
Of these, 3.2% of the respondents answered that they were working or the facilities around them were "suspended", and 25.1% answered that they had some kind of "use restriction" such as shortening the time. I went up to.
In addition, in short stays, "pause" was 1.4% and "use restriction" was 36%, and even now, more than four months after the state of emergency was lifted, there are a series of movements to restrict use in order to reduce the risk of infection. ..
In addition, labor shortages are becoming more serious, with 36.4% of home-visit long-term care and 31.4% of day services leaving or taking leave due to concerns about infection.
Professor Yuki, who conducted the survey, said, "The longer the usage restrictions, the greater the burden on the person and his / her family. In order for the facility to recover the situation, it is essential to improve infection control measures, and the government will actively support it. We should do it. "
Short stay facility with restricted acceptance "state of groping"
At the short stay facility in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture, we are still partially restricting the acceptance of users in order to reduce the risk of infection with the new coronavirus.
Short stays are usually facilities for short-term admission when a family member living together is temporarily unable to take care of them, or when an elderly person living alone is uneasy to return to their home after being discharged from the hospital.
Since users change frequently, it is necessary to be careful about bringing in viruses.
Since the building where this facility is located also has a serviced housing for the elderly and many people live in it, the corporation that operates it has restricted the acceptance of new short stay users since April.
After that, for those who absolutely needed it, I measured the temperature for two weeks in advance and confirmed that there was no fever before accepting it, but in August a cluster occurred at a nearby day service. Judging that the risk of infection has not decreased so much, we have returned to the same response as in April and have continued to this day.
There are 27 short stays, usually almost full, but now they are vacant and their income has dropped by about 20% compared to the same period last year.
On the other hand, the cost of infection prevention such as disinfection and the burden of work are increasing, and it is said that strict management is required.
Miki Saito, the manager of the "Living Support Kisarazu" short stay, said, "Not only is it difficult to manage, but I feel uncomfortable because I can't respond to the voice of wanting to use it. Because of the high risk, we have to restrict the use. We are still trying to figure out what to do. "
In addition, he said, "In order to resume new acceptance, it is necessary to carry out virus tests and further enhance preventive measures, and I would like the government to expand support in terms of costs."