Protecting Our Seniors

by Ebony Hall

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided COVID-19 housing guidance for retirement communities and independent living facilities (ILF). Many people living in these facilities are at higher risk of becoming very ill from the coronavirus because they are older or have chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease.

The CDC created this COVID-19 housing guidance for "owners, administrators, operators, workers, volunteers, visitors, and residents of retirement communities and ILF that are not healthcare facilities." The agency has also included a checklist that can be adapted by retirement communities and ILF to "meet their needs and circumstances."

Main points of the guidance

The COVID-19 housing guidance goes into great detail about how to “help slow the spreading of the virus and prevent severe illness” in communities.

• Cancel all public or non-essential group activities and events

• Clean and disinfect all common areas and shared facilities

• Inform residents, workers, volunteers and visitors about COVID-19

• Encourage personal protective measures

• Help residents establish a “buddy” system to ensure they stay connected

• Consider limiting the number of nonessential visitors

• Screen, when possible, and advise workers and essential volunteers

• Follow the guidance for businesses and employers

If a case is confirmed in your facility

Lastly, the CDC lays out what a retirement facility or ILF can do if a COVID-19 case is confirmed in the facility.

• Coordinate with local officials

• Communicate with residents, workers, volunteers, and visitors

• Ask residents to self-monitor for 14-days and take action, if sick

• Clean and disinfect thoroughly

Read the full interim guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/retirement/guidance-retirement-response.html