Protecting Seniors in Long-Term Care Communities From the Risks of COVID-19

A study in the Journal of Aging & Social Policy urges measures to protect older adults in long-term care communities along with their caregivers who are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 outbreak, reports EurekAlert . The authors recommend that such centers should be priority sites for coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment. In addition, centers should develop policies to guarantee adequate staffing and close adherence to infection control protocols. The authors also call on long-term care communities to prioritize supervision during the pandemic to protect residents and staff as much as possible. "The most important thing that we can all do to help protect these vulnerable groups is to minimize disease transmission by following guidance from public health officials on handwashing and social distancing," declared University of Ottawa Professor William Gardner.