Is anyone here in one of the states affected by coronavirus shutdowns?

I am so sorry, many places have to do this for the health and safety of all.   Ask the facility, can you send them pictures of you and letters?  Can she read?

Mom has macular degeneration. Hospitals are allowing one visitor, but in Maryland senior homes are completely shut down. The nurse assistant who is with my mom today has been to two other facilities--isn't she more likely to carry a virus than me, who has barely been around anyone?

It is for her safety. My father's AL will only allow one visitor at a time in and you must fill out a form and basically shower with Purell. If that is what it takes, then let them do their job.

Kim, you may be less likely to carry the virus, but at this point, with the failure to provide adequate numbers of tests, we really aren't able to progress as an allegedly first world post-industrial nation should.   And it could be that you've unknowingly been exposed to the virus, while the nurses have taken precautions.

That's not to suggest that you're not caring for yourself; it's a reflection of what resources the medical profession had, before shortages.

Can you call your mother?   Sometimes I've called the nursing station and asked for someone to help my father with the phone, especially when he was  too weak to do it himself.   

I hope that the sacrifices those with parents in care facilities make lead to safer resolutions for them in the short and long term.

I'm so sorry to hear this and feel for you. It must be really hard.

I think what others suggested, phone and letters, are very good ideas. Perhaps they could also let her see you via skype or something? I understand they are doing it for the right reasons but perhaps they should have warned relatives before, so I wouldn't be shy, try to ask them.

Sending you and your mom lots of encouragement through this difficult time.

Test kits are mostly irrelevant until several days after exposure or just before someone displays symptoms; studies shown many people are disease carriers before they have a fever and the antibody level in their sputum/spit is high enough for a positive test. Some people with fevers will not test positive for another 1-2 days. At least several days of the 14 day incubation/isolation period is necessary _before_ accurate tests results. That's why it's so important to restrict access to LTC facilities and keep out the people who have been exposed and are incubating the virus but are not yet symptomatic.

One documented community spread was caused when a father who "might" have been exposed through travel was instructed to self quarantine at home for 14 days decided since he wasn't feeling sick to attend his daughter's recital with his family at around day 10. His family left the recital after being informed he had tested positive during the event. Later tests showed his wife and one child were also positive (infected while he quarantined at home), and the three of them infected several people who were in attendance at the recital.

The reason medical personal are being allowed greater access than the body public is the assumption trained medical personal are more likely to follow directions than people like the father wanting to attend a recital.

Both my Mother's and my Aunt's ALFs are on lockdown.
I understand it's hard, however, it only takes one person to start a huge problem! It's not worth the risk!
Use this time as a respite.
Hang in there!

Some NH and ALFs here in Florida are on lockdown too.

MN facilities are on lockdown as of this week. Not sure if it is mandatory but it is the right move. If you think you want to risk bringing C19 into the NH to your mom or others, you can talk to the admin if you have "special reasons" but then they'd have to make exceptions for others. It is all new territory and the NHs are running on all cylinders. The staff will need to be thanked profusely when this eventually blows over. We are all in a similar boat, and some people have it much worse. I hope you can have peace in your heart that they are doing the best they can for their residents under very stressful conditions.

I would think sending mail would be dangerous to because coronavirus could be on the mail. I wonder if they spray the mail w disinfectant.

I live in Wisconsin, in a suburb of Madison. A coworker's mom is at an assisted living facility that is not allowing any visitors. The mom doesn't remember how to use the phone, so the coworker feels really cut off from her mom.

Xenajada, I work for the post office. Nobody is spraying the mail. We have a sign at our time clock that says KEEP CALM and WASH YOUR HANDS!

https://www.npr.org/2020/03/14/815778420/son-talks-about-89-year-old-dads-recovery-from-covid-19

You might find this article interesting regarding an 89 yr old survivor of covid-19 in Washington.

My son lives in NYC. Mayor Diblasio wants to shut down the whole city. Shut everything down.

The mayor of Illinois is closing all bars and restaurants.

Watch CNN, they will tell you what is closing down.

By now the entire USA is affected by shut downs of various kinds. The MC where I work as well as my mother's MC is not allowing visitors at all; only medical and essential personnel at this point.

We, as a country, are trying to 'flatten the curve' by keeping this virus from hitting everyone at once. Check out this article to gain a better understanding of the intent behind social distancing in situations such as we're facing:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/?fbclid=IwAR3__I7HldG2ZBaUwGHdDuhUjlnFbHUyErFaCQRgB9sIHmxPYsukY62JO2o

We certainly do not want to carry this virus into the elder care communities, so most people are fine with taking a break from visiting their loved ones. It can be hard, but no harder than trying to save their lives once the virus hits them!

Good luck

We are affected here in MD,, even the libraries are shut down now. All schools and senior centers,, now casinos and next will be restaurants and bars like NYC. Our hospitals are limiting visitors to one each,, others can not even be in the hospital. It is hard for families but probably needed right now

the governor of California just asked all bars and wineries to close closing But not restaurants. He is also telling people 65 and older to stay home. Starbucks in my city is “grab & go” only, no sitting inside or out anymore, you can get your drink but have to leave. The grocery store in my parents small town just announced that they are only letting in 25 people at a time.

i went to Costco today, on a Sunday and was surprised it wasn’t that crowded and feel like I won the lottery because I got 2 cases of water!! If I had gotten my hands on some TP I would have ran out and bought a lottery ticket LOL!

All schools in my county are closed until 3/31 at least. All care facilities are locked down, no visitors. Can’t get in to the ER without first going in to white tents in the hospital parking lot first. The city has closed the libraries and rec centers. I believe the police department is closing the lobby starting tomorrow. All sports have been postponed.

California just instituted anyone over 65 is to stay at home. I would make it clear to the care center that you are on weekend acting as really a caregiver for your Mom in place of the hired ones on weekdays. There are exceptions being made by need, at end of life, and etc.

My mother’s nursing home shut down to visitors starting Friday. I just had the sweetest phone call from my mother who is used to getting daily visitors. She asked me to sing “I’m a Little Teapot”, a song that I entertained family and guests with when I was very small. Of course, I obliged. I asked her if she knew why nobody had come to see her, and she said, “Oh, yeah. The virus.” I told her that they were keeping her safe from it.

I am confused by all this though. I understand that this is a new virus which is little understood and which is highly contagious, but so far this season in the US, the regular flu has caused over 12,000 deaths compared to 63 for covid-19. 12,000! According to the CDC, there were over 35,000 deaths in the US during the 2018-2019 flu season. Globally, the flu causes up to 650,000 deaths annually. Why don’t we have the shutdowns and quarantines for regular flu season? Do we just accept that there will be this high death rate for our garden variety flu? If anything, I suspect the covid-19 measures are going to provide a huge reduction in influenza deaths world-wide.

I've lost track of the shutdowns  in my state, but they don't affect me anyway.    They're for public places, gatherings, etc., but so far don't seem to affect very small businesses.  

I did receive an automated call this evening from one of the county execs advising of a phone call session tomorrow addressing safety and care for elderly people (which includes me even though I don't always consider myself in that category).

Apparently it's some type of county wide phone call-in and/or advice section.   I will call, but I suspect that most of the questions will reflect situations already addressed, or raise issues that can't be answered such as length of shutdowns.

Still, I'm impressed that the county is reaching out to the older folks in this area.   Thus far the elected officials in my state seem to be very proactive.

TreeArtist, your mother sounds like a real sweetheart!

I’m in NY and on Sunday’s I still visit the NH my Mom was in to see her old roommate. It closed down to visitors 3 days ago. Their policy was that unless the resident is “actively dying” or very extenuating circumstances, visitors can not enter. Then Friday the governor shut down all NY NH to visitors, with the same a exceptions. When I went today to drop off the goodies I usually bring on sundays to Moms roommate, the head nurse was stationed at the door, taking temps of all the staff entering the building. I knew I couldn’t go in, so I handed over the large bag and thanked them all for keeping everyone safe. We don’t have any confirmed cases in our county yet, and I hope we don’t. I am impressed with our governor and local responses.

Most are on lockdown here in Utah. No one in or out is really the responsible thing to do for the residents right now.

My University has just cancelled all classes for next week and is trying to find a way to finish the term through remote lessons.

As of yesterday nursing homes in BC were allowing one family member in to visit. My former mil has her birthday on St Patrick's Day and I had planned to surprise her with her first great grandson for a visit. It is not safe for either of them, so I will send a card.

Our governor recently announced that he wants anyone over the age of 60 to voluntarily self quarantine. I am 64, hubby is 65.

Tons of cancellations of events, school closures, graduation ceremonies cancelled, limiting number of people in public places such as restaurants and bars, etc. Earlier closing of bars and restaurants too. Our zoo closed, museums are closed and Sanger Theatre closing too.

We are going to take a hit. We rely on tourism. Travel is not going to occur during this virus outbreak.

In New York City the Mayor announced all schools, bars and restaurants to close. Restaurants will be limited to takeout and food delivery.

Elaine,

It’s starting to feel like a freakin sci-fi novel or movie, right? I get the safety aspect but it’s a strange feeling.

I know, right Needhelpwithmom? It does feel like a sci-fi movie. My son is 32 and lives in NYC so he will miss going to bars and restaurants with his friends. I am in Upstate NY and they are closing schools this week but haven’t closed bars or restaurants. We haven’t had anybody who tested positive for the virus in my county, YET. Hopefully we will have a vaccine soon and with the warm weather coming maybe the virus will disappear. I’m just hoping.