The world sacrificed its elderly in the race to protect hospitals. The result was a catastrophe in care homes

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/26/world/elderly-care-homes-coronavirus-intl/index.html

 

By February 25, the World Health Organization said the virus had already killed thousands in China and was spreading through northern Italy, but at the time there were just 13 confirmed cases and no deaths in the UK. While the government ordered hospitals to prepare for an influx of patients, its advice to some of the country's most vulnerable people -- elderly residents of care or nursing homes -- was that they were "very unlikely" to be infected.

That guidance would remain in place over the next two-and-a-half weeks, as the number of coronavirus cases in the UK exploded. By the time the advice was withdrawn on March 13 and replaced with new guidance, there were 594 confirmed cases, and it was too late.

 

 Data published on LTCcovid shows that more than half of all coronavirus deaths in nations including Belgium, France, Ireland, Canada and Norway occurred in care homes or among care home residents in all settings. In the US, data collated by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) from 35 states and included in the LSE report showed that care home residents accounted for 30,130​, or at least 34.6%​, of the more than 87,000 coronavirus deaths ​recorded as of May 15. Care home residents are also overrepresented in ​some countries with relatively few deaths, accounting for 26 out of ​the first 99 deaths documented in Australia, or more than a quarter of all fatalities through May 18.

 

Sweden has repeatedly defended its controversial decision to remain relatively permissive in its restrictions on movement, but Health Minister Lena Hallengren admitted a "big failure" to protect the elderly and said care homes were now of the utmost importance, according to Swedish media. There had been 1,661 coronavirus deaths among care home residents out of 3,395 total coronavirus deaths in Sweden by May 14, or 49%, according to LTCcovid's report.

 

 

Hong Kong says it has not had a single infection in a care home, and only four deaths and just over 1,000 cases in total. In Singapore, just two of 18 deaths have taken place among care home residents.

"There's been a lot of focus in hospitals and focus on community transmission, but not in care homes. And I think that reflects the low status that the care sector has in many countries," said Comas-Herrera.

The authors of the JAMA report on Seattle write that: "Although many prefer not to think about nursing homes, they are a critical safety net for frail older adults and part of the fabric of our society."