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What happens if a person in an assisted living home gets COVID-19?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
If a person in an assisted living home gets COVID-19, they will need to immediately isolate. If the case is mild, they may remain isolated in a private area of the community such as their private apartment. All residents of an assisted living home should be tested for COVID-19 if any resident or staff member contracts the virus.
Assisted living homes are not intended for those who need regular medical or skilled nursing care, so if the infected person’s symptoms worsen, they will need to be moved to a hospital or nursing facility equipped to treat coronavirus patients.
The CDC also recommends that all residents self-isolate if anyone in an assisted living community contracts COVID-19. Thus, some communities may require all people to remain in their private rooms for 14 days if anyone in the community contracts coronavirus. This can be frustrating for residents who are healthy and have not contracted coronavirus, but the 14-day isolation period is intended to prevent anyone else in the community from becoming sick.
COVID-19 Update: With social distancing and stay-at-home orders, many seniors are struggling with loneliness and isolation. We’ve developed a list of products that caregivers or seniors can purchase to help older adults stay happy, healthy and connected, whether they are aging in place at home or in an assisted living community.
Additional Coronavirus FAQs
- Is it safe to send my loved one in assisted living a package during coronavirus?
- How are nursing homes ensuring that residents with dementia don’t get the coronavirus?
- Why isn’t my mom’s senior living community communicating with families about which residents have coronavirus?
- Why are they letting patients from the hospital who had coronavirus come back into mom’s assisted living community?
- Should I postpone my move to an assisted living facility?
- Can I move into an assisted living facility during coronavirus?
- Do staff members in assisted living homes have enough personal protective equipment (PPE)?
- What steps are assisted living homes taking to prevent the spread of coronavirus?
- Are assisted living facilities allowing social events within the community during coronavirus?
- Are common areas and recreational facilities in assisted living homes open during COVID-19?
- Why can’t my mom in independent living come and go as she pleases without being quarantined for 14 days?
- Are assisted living staff members being tested for the coronavirus?
- What do assisted living homes do if some of their staff members get sick from the coronavirus?
- How can I set up a virtual meeting with my loved one in assisted living?
- Can people in assisted living homes visit each other during COVID-19?
- What are assisted living communities doing to keep my loved one with dementia engaged during coronavirus?
- How can I help my loved one in an assisted living home during COVID-19?
- How long are people quarantined for if they get the coronavirus in assisted living?
- Do residents stay in assisted living communities if they get the coronavirus?
- Are residents of assisted living communities required to wear masks during COVID-19?
- Are senior living communities serving food during the coronavirus?
- How do assisted living communities serve meals safely to residents during COVID-19?
- Can I tour an assisted living facility during coronavirus?
- Are staff members in assisted living facilities required to wear masks during COVID-19?
- How do I know if assisted living homes are keeping my loved ones safe during COVID-19?
- I think my mom’s care home isn’t following the state rules about coronavirus, what can I do?
- Why is my mom’s assisted living community not letting her leave to go to church?
- How can I help my family member in assisted living keep busy during coronavirus?
- How long are staff members required to stay home if they get sick from the coronavirus?
- Am I allowed to visit my loved one in assisted living during coronavirus?