Inside INdiana Business is reporting that aenior care advocacy group AARP Indiana is calling on the state to release timely, more detailed data on cases of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities in the Hoosier state.
The organization is pushing the Indiana State Department of Health to release the number of new COVID-19 cases and deaths on a daily basis. Currently, the state is providing aggregate data for nursing homes and assisted living facilities statewide.
“We believe a daily release of data by facility is how caregivers can give best decisions for their family members,” said Jason Tomcsi, associate state director for communications, AARP Indiana. “And so, people in their communities know what’s going on.”
The latest data from ISDH shows 1,140 pandemic-related deaths in Indiana nursing homes, up 58 from the previous report. The total number of deaths in the state, as of Tuesday, was 2,377.
The same report shows 5,147 positive COVID-19 cases in the state’s 534 long-term care facilities.
“You are seeing a disproportionate impact in these facilities,” said Tomcsci. “There still seems to be a lack of things they need, whether it be testing, PPE, and other things that are necessary to keep residents safe. There needs to be action taken.”
Indiana is conducting targeted testing when positive cases appear.
The organization wants the state to increase regular testing, a sentiment echoed by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, a trade association representing nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
The organizations estimate it would cost $16 million to test the 106,000 Hoosiers that either live or work in Indiana’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Because of the cost, AHCA has called for state and federal funding to support regular testing of staff and residents.
Another concern for AARP is facility accountability. Tomcsi said AARP opposes proposals to grant immunity related to COVID-19 for nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other long-term care facilities, at both the state and federal level.
“It’s not something we’ve seen in Indiana, that said it’s something we need to be watching very closely,” said Tomcsi. “You need to have that ability to hold facilities accountable for residents harmed or neglected or abuse.”
As Indiana entered phase four of the Back on Track reopening plan, some nursing homes started to ease visitor restrictions. They are now allowing for some visits outside the facilities, as long as precautions are taken.
AARP is urging additional steps, such as a structured plan, to allow family members to regularly communicate, even virtually.
“It’s something that is critically important to have a plan in place to where they can have that communication going forward because you want to make sure they have that contact with loved ones,” said Tomcsi.
Nationally, AARP said it has heard from thousands of families who have lost loved ones to coronavirus or have struggled to get an update on conditions inside facilities where their loved one lives, which is why it continues to press for transparency.
“These deaths are not just numbers. These are family members, husbands, wives, grandparents,” said Tomcsi.