INFORMATIVE MASTERCLASS
How Planning NOW Can Create a Lasting Legacy While Protecting What Matters Most:
Family, Wealth, and Property.
Reserve Your Spot Now

Kendall and Bexar County Estate Planning

Texas Estate Planning Blog

wheelchair assisted living
Shawn McCammon
Shawn McCammon
Attorney at Law

Shawn McCammon is the founder and managing shareholder of McCammon Law. Shawn has been practicing for over 20 years, starting off in litigation before working in-house as a corporate attorney, and finally opening his own firm in 2009.

Learn More About Shawn

What Should I Ask, If My Mom Is in a Quarantined Facility

May 19, 2020
It can be frustrating and nerve-racking when you can't see a loved one face-to-face — a fact that so many family members with loved ones in assisted living or nursing home facilities are discovering during the coronavirus outbreak. To protect those who are most at risk of complications from the disease caused by the coronavirus, COVID-19, health officials have announced strict rules for some facilities with vulnerable older residents.

Federal guidance for nursing homes state that members of the public and non-essential health care personnel and staff shouldn’t be permitted to visit (with a few exceptions, such as an end-of-life situation — as long as the visitor isn't showing signs of a respiratory illness), according to guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

AARP’s recent article entitled “6 Questions to Ask if Your Loved One Is in a Quarantined Facility” explains that assisted living communities are a different situation, because they're governed by the states. As a result, there have been no broad rules covering their management during the outbreak. However, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living, an industry trade group, is advocating that its facilities to follow the federal government's guidance for nursing homes.

To ease the anxiety, many of these residences are making great efforts to communicate with family members, such as emails, phone calls and websites, outlining their policies and instructions for connecting with residents and posting photos of residents’ daily activities.

However, many family members are still worried about how their loved ones are doing, when they can't confirm their well-being first-hand person. Therefore, if you have questions about their care, you need to be assertive. Be firm, polite and persistent. Here are some questions that you might ask, if your loved one is in a quarantined facility:

  1. Has anyone at the facility tested positive for COVID-19? Nursing homes and long-term care facilities have been hard hit by COVID-19, so ask about testing of all staff members, residents and any vendors who service the facility.
  2. How are you keeping the facility clean and keeping the risk of infection low for residents? Ask about the protocols put into place to protect the patients. This should include screening staff who are caring for your parents, and what are they doing to keep the place sanitized.
  3. Is the facility maintaining regular healthy-living programs? The patients need to have services, like physical therapy and occupational therapy programs designed to keep your loved one from deconditioning.
  4. How are the residents being engaged? Are there activities, like games, presentations and music to keep the residents engaged?
  5. How do I communicate with my parent? Some facilities have set up visits via Skype, WhatsApp and FaceTime between families and their loved ones.
  6. How is the facility working with drop-off deliveries? You may want to deliver something like flowers or baked goods for dad at the care facility, so find out the procedure.

Reference: AARP (April 15, 2020) “6 Questions to Ask if Your Loved One Is in a Quarantined Facility”

Request a Consultation
Share This Post
Request a free, in-office consultation today!
We will do whatever it takes to make your business grow and family thrive.
Request a Consultation Now
Stay Informed
Subscribe To Our eNewsletter to Get News and Updates Sent To Your Inbox
Subscribe Now
McCammon Law PC logo
We offer honest answers & free consultation appointments

Estate Planning Law Firm in Texas

Boerne/San Antonio Office

138 Old San Antonio Rd.
Suite 504
Boerne, TX 78006

McCammon Law, P.C.

138 Old San Antonio Rd., Suite 504
Boerne, TX 78006

Get Directions
IMS - Estate Planning and Elder Law Practice Growth Advisors
Powered by