Journal of Reproductive Health and Contraception

Response to a massive sars-cov-2 infection in a residence for the elderly transformed into a caring center

Global Summit on Nursing care and Midwifery
May 26-27, 2021 | Webinar

Paolo Agostinis

Geriatric nurse

ScientificTracks Abstracts: J Contracept Stud

Abstract

At the outbreak of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic in early 2020, residences for the elderly were hit hard in Italy, while local hospitals were rapidly overwhelmed. At the residence Matteo Brunetti, located in the eastern Italian Alps, over 60% of patients became ill within few days and it was decided to transform the nursing home into a caring center, moving to an hospital dedicated to the treatment of COVID-19 only patients needing intensive care. To that end, in two days, specific areas were defined within the nursing home and patients were re-distributed accordingly, physicians, nurses and accessory personnel were recruited (some with experience in the assistance of patients with COVID-19), instruments for diagnosis and treatment were obtained (devices for chest ultrasound, gas.analyzers, devices for oxygen administration), a link to a laboratory for the analysis of biologic samples was put in place. A program of intensive teaching for house personnel and case discussion was devised. The plan appears to have worked well. The infection was brought under control within one month and one half and mortality compared favorably with that of nursing homes from the same area not transformed into caring centers. Guests recovered rapidly from the stressful experience.