ARE YOUR LOVED ONES SAFE IN THEIR NURSING HOME?
THE BEST WAYS TO HELP LOCAL NONPROFITS IN CHALLENGING TIMES
The effects of the recent pandemic that shook the globe left no age group unaffected, but it posed a special risk to seniors — particularly, seniors who live in nursing homes. An estimated 1.3 million Americans live in one of the country’s 15,600 nursing homes, where not only residents’ ages but also their preexisting conditions and close proximity to other at-risk individuals made them especially vulnerable to the coronavirus. An outbreak of the coronavirus at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, became one of the inciting instances of the spread of COVID-19 back in March. In the following months, thousands of nursing homes across 37 states reported having residents who tested positive for the coronavirus — and those are just the ones that reported cases. Chances are, there have been countless other cases that went unreported. If nursing homes had excellent track records for dealing with viral outbreaks and took proper precautions to shield their residents from becoming ill, there might not be as much to worry about. The sad truth is, however, that 75% of nursing homes in the U.S. have been cited for failing to properly control and monitor infections in their facilities — and that’s when there’s not a pandemic going on. HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED THEIR SAFETY?
Over the past several months, families, businesses, and nonprofits have had to navigate life in this challenging “new normal,” and it can be hard to support your favorite nonprofits when times are tough. Here are a few ways you can help these important entities, even when you don’t have resources to spare right now. DONATE While many people donate generously during the holiday season, remember that nonprofits need donations throughout the year, and different nonprofits need different things. A monetary donation can often go a long way, but never feel obligated to give money, especially when your budget may be tight. Instead, consider cleaning out your closet. What clothes, shoes, or other accessories can you part with? What about dishware or small appliances? When you clean out your home and donate unused items, you benefit those in the community who need them most. VOLUNTEER In a time of social distancing, volunteering may be discouraged, but nonprofits still need volunteers to operate. The good news is that many nonprofits need volunteers for positions that maintain social distance, such as driving. Food banks and kitchens need drivers to pick up donations or ingredients from donors and to deliver food to people in need, such as the elderly or those with disabilities. ADVOCATE Even if you don’t have time or resources to give, you can become an advocate for important causes around your community. While it might not seem like much, sharing information about local nonprofits on social media can make a genuine difference. Nonprofits need exposure, which is greatly boosted through community support. Sharing useful information about nonprofits — or sharing their posts — increases their visibility so more people will take action.
No doubt, several nursing homes have dropped the ball when it comes to keeping their residents safe. And,
even though we might be at a point where we can see a
light at the end of the tunnel, your loved ones who are in nursing homes could still be at risk.
If you want to make sure your loved ones residing in nursing homes stay healthy and safe, talk with the nursing home staff regularly and keep up to date on any medications or food items they might need. If you have any reason to suspect that the staff has been neglecting its residents, give Shuttlesworth Law Firm a call at (205) 322-1411. We help you protect the most vulnerable members of our community.
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