Has anyone had to send their loved one to the ER during Corona Virus?

Most hospitals are being very careful about keeping COVID and non-COVID treatment areas separate. Do you have to go in through the ER or would your mother's PCP arrange for a direct admission? You are equating "hospital" with "ER," but doctors can arrange direct hospital admission if they believe there is medical necessity.

I would rather worry about caregivers coming to house.Worked as caregiver through agency Senior Desires from mountain view CA and my coworker night shift came to work sick.She was lying it was alergies pneumonia and then I was told she was covid 19 positive.Thanks God since day she came severely sick to work she didn't come inspite agency try to send her back few days later claiming she was feeling better.In hospital you just follow rules mask gloves and try to don't use bathroom.Dont stroll corridors stay in a room.Medical personal is very contious about using PPE.So are emergency techs and firefighters.Not getting help at emergency can be life or death sytuation so it's better to be safe than sorry.

I had to send my dad and fortunately he was able to be released. He did not get Covid and I was allowed to stay with him.
Many extra safety precautions were in place for cleanliness.

My wife has been to the ER twice, been admitted to the hospital 2 times, and had 3 surgeries starting March 30. She has been in a SNF since June 19 after 3rd surgery and 6 day hospitalization.
No COVID so far.
However I did get a call for SNF last week that 2 employeesthat had contact with her, had contracted the virus. I guess I won't know what her outcome will be for about 2 more weeks.
I was able to go to pre-op with her for all 3 surgeries. The first, neck surgery, on March #0, There were only 2 to 3 max family max in waiting room.
2nd surgery June 8, spinal surgery, maybe 25 in waiting room. She was admitted overnight.
3rd surgery, June 16, spinal surgery to remove a blood clot from surgical site, I was alone although this surgery was after 5 p.m.
Masks were required to enter hospital, only one visitor per patient.
No visitors at rehab SNF.

I had to take my daughter to the ER in mid-June. This hospital, and I have read that many others, have created separate units for screening and treating COVID patients. They do not come through the ER at all. As was Zoelove's experience, the ER was empty--3 or 4 patients in a unit with 20 beds. They did allow me in the back with her (wearing a mask of course and and after a temp check) but the front desk suggested to my husband that he go home and come back when she got discharged rather than sit in the waiting room.

My mother actually fell and we had to call 911. They came and took her to the ER to have her checked out. This was in the middle of covid . I was sick about it! When there she had some tests done and they discovered a UTI. .....when I came to get her it was dead in there. I mean no one but the nurse and a security guard. Both wearing masks. My mom had one on as well. I was relieved.

Yes, I had to send my mom to the ER and she was admitted during this horrible time. It is hard. Her doctor was there when she arrived and I was connected to her nurses and they called every day with updates. Does your loved one have a cell phone? Make sure she has it with her as well as the charger. I also armed my mom with hand sanitizers and masks. It gave me a sense of security. You can ask what is your hospital’s procedure of keeping family member connected during this time. . I understand how you feel. I was a mess. However, just like you-there was no other choice. They tested her for COVID19 (She was negative) and kept her on a floor with other patients that tested negative. Keep the faith.

Yes, we went the 3rd. They were busy. Trying to keep people 6feet. Ev everyone Had masks. They weren’t allowing visitors but I was adamant. Her confusion made my presence necessary. What I thought was returned uti. Instead she has shingles. Apparently any infection can give confusion.

We recently went to the ER in Florida when my hubby injured his finger. They did a temperature screen, verbal questionnaire about COVID exposure, give each of us a mask and hand sanitizer before entering ER. It worked out fine and everybody wore masks.

My mother had the same problem. They sent her to a “clean “ IE no COVID cases hospital. She was there a week . She then went to rehab, again a clean area. We couldn’t visit either place. We brought her home since she then went to hospice, the the whole situation exacerbated her dementia for
my mother and she passed away but not due to COVID. My stepfather went the exact same route 4 years ago, that’s just how dementia can work.
may be different in a rural area but the hospital systems here( NE Ohio) have pretty rigid requirements to keep Covid out of some hospitals just for things like this . That’s why family can’t visit etc and they won’t take patients with Covid symptoms or allow family even in the building if they are at risk to having it . I had to wear a mask( I do anyway) and get a temperature check and answer a long list of questions just to get into the rehab facility to sign her paperwork.

Yes, I did and for the same reason. I was terrified during the overnight and two days she was a the hospital. She did come home just fine. Our local hospital is being very careful. Just maybe her nurse can call the Dr. and get her some meds.

On Day 1 of the coronavirus shutdown I took my 90 year old mother with Advanced Dementia to the ER. We were the guinea pigs for a rural hospital and it was an ordeal. We had to stay all day and then she was admitted that night. Thought it was a UTI but turned out to be Sepsis and a week later was transferred to Assisted Living. I have not seen her since that day but visit thru her window and call. It was very difficult with her severe anxiety but got thru it. We did not get infected with Coronavirus. I prayed a lot and took every precaution I could think of. That’s really all you can do - what if it is not a UTI and something else ? What is the best choice for her ?

Yes and it’s awful. But you better send her NOW - you can’t mess with a UTI!

The urgent Care idea is a good one. A lot of doctors are offering telephone appointments as well. That way a urine test could be ordered and one trip could take care of the paperwork (if any) and test. Thus limiting the LO's exposure to the lab only. Even if hospitalization is necessary, doctors are going to try to do whatever they can to work with you to keep your LO safe. Just give the doctor some warning and try not to just show up in the ER in the middle of the night. It's easier to keep people safe when there are several places to put them and more staff to take care of them.

My dad has gone twice, and both times when he came back home I wore a mask for 14 days He wouldn't wear one.I know you can be asymptomatic but that is what I did.

I had sent my mom by ambulance on June 3rd. Waiting as long as I could. In Illinois, (Joliet area). As MPOA, I wasn’t allowed in hospital. We were given direct contact with her nurses everyday and able to get her updates. After 30 days she didn’t get Covid there. Still doesn’t have it.
she is 83, with dementia, severe hearing loss. Since she had shingles in her only hearing ear. No hearing aides were able to be placed in ears. So we couldn’t communication with mom by phone to well. She had low sodium and that is why I finally had to put in hospital. The first 4 days ready to go to Rehab side of hospital after a week there she did get a UTI and infection was then in urine and blood stream. This took about 9 days to clear up. Then rehab again. Brought her home on Friday, first day we had seen her.
Your parents health is important and unfortunately, if you wish her to survive you might find her needing to go. I wished they had a second alternative. As of the next day the hospital nursing staff just went on strike. Glad to have her home with home health services. She is still as however just as weak as when I had her go to hospital.
J

My grandma gets bad UTI's and has low sodium all the time has been in and out of hospital 3 times since the Corona virus has been here. The first time they thought maybe she had it and tested her but put her on the virus floor till the test came back. The test was negative so they moved her to a different floor. Thank God she didn't catch it while on the virus floor. But it is hard with her being in the hospital she gets so lonely since we can't visit her and she don't have a cellphone being she don't know how to use it. Also she gets mean as ever when she gets the UTI's yells at the nurses and stuff and we can't be there to tell the nurses that she's normally a very nice lady. My mom just kept in contact as much as possible calling checking on her and with the nurses making sure she's being taken care of. It's a scary situation for sure.

We had to call 911 for my MIL with a complete bowel blockage. We couldn't get in to see her. They admitted her and my husband was able to see her once before she went to NH on hospice. She did not get Corona Virus and my husband was given a temperature check and he had a mask, of course.
As far as UTI's go...it would make life easier if doctors would just prescribe an antibiotic if you called. My mom was sent to ER several times when she was bedridden before hospice came on board because her hands off DO doctor wanted to send her to a urologist....she was beginning delirium from the UTI...now how was I supposed to pull off getting her to a urologist a few days later? ER was the only choice.

My Mom (81 years old) went to the ER twice with her COPD in March and in May. She tested negative twice then sent back to SNF at her Retirement Home. She had contracted Covid 19. Sent back to hospital to Covid floor. They allowed us to call in and video chat and see her. No one could come in. I would stay on the video for 8 hours talking to her while she hallucinated and screamed and yelled to calm her. Watching Covid ravage her was horrible and heartbreaking. She was lucid going into the hospital and the covid ravaged her neurologically. She was screaming continuously day and night " I am dying, Momma, help me! , She was on 10 L of oxygen almost ready for the vent. I told the Doc to not vent her please and do not resuscitate. Its what she wanted. Just keep her comfortable. She passed away 7 days later. This COVID is horrible for the elderly when they get it. It took my most precious possession my Mom. Please keep yours safe.

I don't know if Urgent Care would handle this, but I think it's possible since I'm sure all that's needed is a urinalysis.    Some urgent care facilities in my area open at 8 am; others in your area might as well, so you might be able to avoid other people as much as possible. 

(I don't like to get up early, but I do now just to avoid all the people who are noncompliant and won't wear face masks.)

When her nurse arrives, she may be able to take a sample and deliver it to the doctor's lab; that way you can avoid going out.   She could also get a script if Mom does have a UTI.    (I've only had one and don't recall what antibiotic I might have been given).

Also, do you have cranberry juice?  If not, get some and keep it on hand.

I'm sorry to say that it was the worst 2 weeks ever. Communication was really poor. I was allowed to call the nursing desk for updates whenever I wanted but I was totally isolated from my dad. We thought he had a mild stroke or TIA according to his symptoms but had called 911 and EMS felt he needed to be admitted.
I didn't know for 3 days that he had pneumonia. He had spent 2 of those days in a covid ward before diagnosing him. Dad also suffers from some form of dementia due to a traumatic brain injury from a fall 3 years ago. He's 90. I am his primary caregiver.
He was moved from covid ward but was still isolated due to covid conventions for distancing, and in a room by himself. No visitors.
On this ward I found out he was admitted for delirium. He was still very confused, no wonder. His mental health wasn't reported to me except he was a compliant patient. I had no idea what meds he was on except clavulin for the pneumonia.
Trying to reach family doctor wasn't easy either. I had to assume that all was well with him, that he was improving just as they were telling me.
And yes, he did improve and he came home. Because of his dementia he doesn't recognize one day from another, so he didn't know how long we had suffered without him.
Once family doctor got involved I was part of a team making decisions and it was quick how all the facilities were arranged for him to come home.
I was so glad to have him come home.
Overall recommendation to hospital was to include all team members especially family.
If I had to do it again I'd wait and call the G.P.

My dad had to go to the ER during Covid and was admitted. Eventually they allowed one visitor at a time. I could not stay with him in the ER but nursing staff were excellent and communicated well. It is a very difficult situation but an untreated UTI can be very bad. Can she start antibiotics at home? Can her PCP set up a home health nurse to check in on her?

Thanks everyone. I ended up sending her to the hospital. Just talked to the doctor over the phone and she does have a bad UTI and they're admitting her. I feel better having talked directly to the doctor.

Anyone presenting with symptoms of COVID are isolated so if your mom, or anyone has to go to the ER it is safe to do so.
If her doctor is aware of the frequent UTI can you contact the doctor and possibly get a prescription so you can care for this at home?

If your mother needs hospitalization you aren’t helping her by keeping her away from the ER. Even if she contacts Covid, she still has the issue at hand to be dealt with.
But do take the advice of her doctor.
Perhaps they could test her as an outpatient? I’m not sure from your post if she lives in a private residence or is in a facility. I recently needed blood work for my aunt and asked her doctor to order HH so they could draw blood and other issues. She has had UTI tests through HH as well. So perhaps that is an option for your mom?

I have been in the ER and hospitalized twice during Covid. I felt very safe and all precautions were taken. Everyone including me wore masks. My husband was not allowed to go with me but I preferred that as I didn’t want him exposed to anything.

I was tested for Covid (negative) and your mom probably will be as well.

I think the main thing is find a way to get her the medical care she needs. It sounds like you have had plenty of experience with UTIs so you know they can be fatal.

My dad has been, no issues, many precautions were taken by hospital staff and no visitors allowed including family

My father went to the ER in May. Then in turn sent him to rehab. It was there he contracted Covid. Couldn't send him back to AL so now Long Term Care.