Advocates For Elderly Want To Re-Open Closed Nursing Homes to Fight Coronavirus

Advocates for the elderly want to consolidate some nursing homes and re-open others to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

In New York, nursing homes have been told they will be required to accept patients infected with COVID-19 because of the strained healthcare system there. Here in Oklahoma, nursing homes are at 65% capacity so advocates said some could be consolidated and others that have closed could be re-opened to care for the elderly who are infected.

“In Oklahoma we’ve got some vacant buildings that can be utilized that can be a step down for skilled nursing. Dedicated facilities strictly serving COVID 19 patients,” said Don Blose with LeadingAge Oklahoma. “The last thing we want to do is bring an infection into this type of community where the people are at the highest risk for extreme complications.”

The best part is, these facilities are already set up to handle residents with COVID-19.

“We have some facilities that are go ready, to the extent that the only thing that we would need to do is to staff them and so that will be one of our tasks is to identify people across Oklahoma, healthcare workers that could be utilized,” Blose said. “The peak for COVID-19 is expected in a couple of weeks in Oklahoma so the faster we get this together the better off we will be. This may be one of those things that could help us be a top ten state.”

The state department of health released a statement saying:

"The administration is continuing to have conversations today with the hospital community about their surge plans. As soon as we have a final report we will share it with the media and the public."

“A good idea is a good idea but you have to have a plan that goes with it and that’s what we’re working on and that’s what we hope to provide,” Blose said.