Frontline Long-Term Care Staff Facing Challenges in LTC Facilities

The people who work in long-term care facilities face challenges keeping both residents and themselves safe. The risk of COVID infection makes their work even more difficult.

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Frontline Long-Term Care Staff Facing Challenges in LTC Facilities
5 Min Read November 10th, 2020

The frontline health care workers have always had to be concerned with protecting their health as they care for ill patients. However, since the COVID-19 crisis, the risk of virus infection and their workload has increased dramatically.

In long-term care facilities, this is a massive problem as the patient population is at high risk for COVID-19 infection, with some facilities being understaffed.

We have heard a lot of bad news during this virus crisis; however, there are positive stories about frontline workers and those being cared for in America's long-term care facilities.

Fear and Anxiety Facing Patients and Staff

There has been much fear and anxiety regarding the safety of both patients and staff at nursing homes, memory care facilities, and assisted living facilities. Positive steps have been put in place to maintain the safety of both the patients and those frontline workers taking care of residents.

Strict restrictions have been placed on long-term care facilities. These restrictions include appropriate social distancing, personal protective equipment, and ongoing testing. Isolation of residents, including limiting or eliminating visitors, help protect both patients and staff during this crisis.

Deservingly so, much of the attention has been focused on the patients. However, facilities are also taking steps to protect the health of their staff, including their emotional health.

Frontline Workers Stretched Thin

Staff is looking for the subtle signs of anxiety and depression in residents due to social isolation and anxiety due to the virus crisis. But steps are now being taken to support the frontline health care workers who are usually stretched thin taking care of their residents.

The job of a health care worker at long-term care facilities has become much more difficult and stressful. A substantial amount of pressure is being placed on these essential workers caring for older people or those with multiple health issues.

Part of the problem is their work does not leave the workplace. These workers must be careful at home and in the community. They must watch their interactions with others.

Showing Appreciation for Frontline Staff

These workers submit to regular COVID-19 testing and must wear PPE all day, including when they are in the community. They must be mindful that they can bring an infection home or to the facility.

CareRite Centers, who provides rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and long-term care services in New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Florida, is showing appreciation to their staff.

"Words truly cannot express our deepest levels of respect, pride, and genuine appreciation that we have for every single one of our team members in the CareRite Centers Network," shared Akiva Rudner, CareRite Centers' Chief Operating Officer.

CareRite Centers' celebrated Nursing Home Week later due to the COVID restrictions. They used the theme, “ ‘It's dedication, it's commitment, it's me.'

"It was designed to recognize the selfless acts of commitment and heroism displayed by health care workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those within the subacute and long-term care sector," according to a CareRite Centers spokesperson.

Rudner said that their team members continue to deliver excellence, calmness, love, devotion, and the highest levels of quality care.

"We are forever grateful for their skilled dedication and selfless acts of bravery," Rudner explained.

The company provided thousands of prizes to reward its staff during a very difficult time. The prizes included tropical all-inclusive resort packages for employees and their families, large monetary awards, advanced technology, gaming systems, kitchen appliances, outdoor home equipment, and tickets to future sporting events.

CareRite Centers crowning Ricky Torres as their Professional-of-the-Year

CareRite Centers crowned Ricky Torres as their Professional-of-the-Year. Torres is a member of the environmental services and housekeeping team at Water's Edge Rehab & Nursing Center at Port Jefferson in Port Jefferson, New York, and was nominated over one hundred times by his peers, patients, and family members at the Water's Edge at Port Jefferson facility.

LTC Facilities Face Staffing Challenges

Maintaining the appropriate staffing in long-term care facilities is essential to providing a safe work environment for these frontline staffers and providing safe patient care.

The nurses, aides, and therapists who work in long-term care facilities must manage the complicated conditions affecting a resident while concurrently monitoring them for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection.

Honoring and rewarding these frontline workers will motivate them as they perform their difficult roles. The family members with loved ones in these facilities should find comfort that every effort is being made to protect both the resident and the staff person to maintain a safe and healthy environment.

In-home health agencies and their home care workers also face the same challenges taking care of those receiving care in their homes. These workers must keep themselves safe as they make sure their patients remain safe.

Families Often Unprepared for Long-Term Care

Those efforts will maintain the best quality of care possible for those who need long-term care services. While many families were unprepared for their loved ones' need for extended care, once it happens, everything needs to be done to provide quality care in the setting that best fits their needs.

Being prepared will make it easier both for your family and your finances. Today, COVID-19 is an underlining concern. Tomorrow it could be something else. However, long-term care creates both a family crisis and a financial crisis.

For those with Long-Term Care Insurance, they have access to the tax-free resources to obtain their choice of quality care at home or in a quality facility. The problem is too many people fail to consider the financial costs and burdens of aging before the crisis happens.

Most experts suggest researching LTC Insurance options in your 40s or 50s when you still enjoy good health and can take advantage of low premiums.

Honoring those who take care of our loved ones - or ourselves in the future - will put a smile on the face of these people who have a lot of pressure on them to deliver quality care while maintaining safety.

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About the Author

Linda is a freelance writer interested in retirement planning, health and aging.

LTC News Contributor Linda Kople

Linda Kople

Contributor since October 31st, 2017

Editor's Note

Being prepared for future declining health and aging has never been more critical than right now. Long-term health care costs are skyrocketing due to increasing demand, labor shortages, and high labor costs. 

If you want to ensure you obtain quality care in the setting you desire, including in-home care, then getting affordable Long-Term Care Insurance is a vital part of your retirement planning. 

Long-term care is a cash flow issue, but it is also a family issue, and the consequences on loved ones can be dramatic. Family caregivers find it hard to juggle their careers and family responsibilities with that of a caregiver for an older parent. The burden is something most people have said in surveys that they don't want to place on their family.

LTC Insurance provides guaranteed tax-free benefits to access your choice of quality care options, including care at home. You will protect your income and assets and reduce the stress and anxiety otherwise placed on loved ones.

Planning Tools and Resources on LTC NEWS

You can find many tools and resources on LTC NEWS to assist you in your research for a planning solution or help your family find the appropriate care for a loved one at the time of crisis. 

To help you plan the costs and burdens of changing health and aging, LTC NEWS has put in place several resources, including:

Find all the resources on LTC NEWS - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News.

Seek Professional Guidance

Insurance rates are regulated, so no insurance agent, agency, or financial advisor can give you special deals. However, insurance companies' premiums vary over 100% for the same coverage.

Experts suggest using a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist to help you navigate the many options available to you and your family.

A specialist who works with the top companies can match your age, health, family history, and other factors and find you the best coverage at the best value. A specialist will save you money, and you will have peace of mind knowing they are making the appropriate recommendations - Work With a Specialist | LTC News.

Finding Quality Care for Mom or Dad

Start by reading our guides -  

If they are lucky enough to own a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, be sure they use it. Sometimes families wait, thinking they can save the benefits for a rainy day. Waiting on using available Long-Term Care Insurance benefits is not a wise idea. 

Get Help in Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim

Quality care obtained early will help provide a better quality of life and reduce the risk of a deep decline and facility care. If you need help in starting the process of a Long-Term Care Insurance claim, LTC NEWS can help.

LTC NEWS provides free assistance with no obligation to help you or a loved one complete the claims process with a Long-Term Care Insurance policy. We have teamed up with Amada Senior Care, who will do all the work, free with no obligation. 

You can also get support in finding quality caregivers and get recommendations for a proper care plan, whether a person has a policy or not. - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim | LTC News

Benefits of Reverse Mortgages 

Today's reverse mortgages for those aged 62 and older could be an ideal resource to fund a Long-Term Care Insurance policy OR even provide money to pay for care if you, or a loved one, already needs help and assistance.  

Some people have much of their savings invested in their homes. With today's reverse mortgages, you can find ways to fund care solutions, care itself, even help with cash flow during your retirement. 

Learn more by asking questions to an expert. LTC NEWS columnist and host of the TV Show "62 Who Knew" will answer your questions regarding caregiving, aging, health, retirement planning, long-term care, and reverse mortgages. 

- Just "Ask Mike." - Reverse Mortgages | LTC News.

Share Your Knowledge - Be A Guest Contributor for LTC NEWS 

LTC NEWS is open to contributors to share their stories with the world. 

You can write a story or ongoing column for LTC NEWS. You can write about many topics, including aging, caregiving, health, lifestyle, retirement planning, and long-term care, to name a few.

Be sure to write for our core target audience of adults aged 40 and older. Our audience is worldwide; however, our primary target is the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking nations. 

Improve your website or blog's SEO and gain exposure and traffic at the same time by being a contributor to LTC NEWS. 

You can even promote yourself, your business, and your website or blog. However, it must have editorial content exclusive to LTC NEWS and not just an advertisement. It can include links to other sites, and you can share the article link once published on your website or social media.

Email your story idea or article: newsroom@ltcnews.com - LTC News Contributors | LTC News

Your Marketing and Advertising Partner – LTC NEWS

Use LTC NEWS to drive traffic to your website and help you attract people interested in your products and services. Plus, you can improve your website's SEO so more consumers can find you when they search for your products and services.

There are various marketing options available with LTC NEWS. Traditional advertising, sponsored content articles, strategic alliances, and more are available. 

Learn more about how LTC NEWS can help you market your business, drive traffic, and improve SEO - Advertise With Us | LTC News.

Shared Links

LTC NEWS offers a 'helpful links' page so readers looking for additional information can find them easily. You can get a dofollow link to your website on LTC NEWS in exchange for a dofollow link on your site.

Let's work together and help consumers who search for us on the web - Site Request | LTC News.

You can also affordably purchase a dofollow link to your website or blog on LTC NEWS. Just contact the advertising department.

Sharing News with LTC NEWS 

Include LTC NEWS in your press release distribution. If your group, organization, business, political committee, etc., have news to share, send it to LTC NEWS. Email - newsroom@ltcnews.com

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