Mom has been diagnosed with Covid. Why aren’t we getting any information other than she’s tested positive?

I am so happy for everyone at your moms facility that faired well with a covid diagnosis. Great news!

Here is a funny story if it wasn't so sad. My mother lives in a Memory Care ALF where they're testing the poor residents *and staff* twice a week. TWICE a week! Last week I got an email saying '4 residents & 3 staff tested positive for the virus & all are asymptomatic'. 4 days later, I get an email saying the next batch of test results are in and there are ZERO positive test results.

What this tells me is............the tests are very inaccurate. And that 'asymptomatic' cases are not 'cases' at all, but false positives.

In my opinion, they should leave these residents ALONE, open things back up, at least to SOME degree, and get OFF of the testing tit which is nothing but a way to nerve everybody up over nothing.

If someone starts ACTING sick, they should be tested. If they develop symptoms and test positive, it's a 'case'. If they're running around testing everyone constantly, willy nilly, and nobody has symptoms, there's nothing wrong.

They should let loved ones back into the ALFs where we can sit 6 feet apart and visit with our parent(s), wearing The Mask, of course, and stop the insanity of forcing us to do these outside window visits in 30 degree temperatures and standing in the snow. I'm 63 and more likely to die from getting sick standing outside for 30 minutes in those conditions than my 94 y/o mother is from catching covid in the MC ALF.

Just my 2 cents.

Thank you everyone.. I finally spoke to the manager co- owner. I held my tongue knowing it’s most likely overwhelming. I’m a bit irritated but mom prognosis is good. 6 staff and 8 residents tested positive 11/28.. with lag time for results it was 12/9 before my sibling heard anything and that email was vague. Long story short mom has been symptom free as well as the other residents and quarantine ends tomorrow. I’m relieved but guarded. I would never tell her that though. I live out of state so visits other than via Amazon Echo are all we get. That is if mom hasn’t put the device in her drawer...thank you all for your encouraging words. Fingers crossed she and her buddies will be okay..

It’s not negligent if all of this happened yesterday. They may not know the prognosis yet and there may not be a treatment plan yet because not everyone needs treatment. She may be entirely asymptomatic. If you go to a testing site and they tell you that you have COVID, your treatment plan is to go home and quarantine. She might be doing fine now but could take a turn for the worse later if symptoms worsen. There’s no set treatment plan for COVID, for anyone.

Covid treatment plans are made as the disease progresses. Every person’s plan is individual and it’s difficult to determine the exact prognosis. My husband and son diagnosed on the same day. Their treatments and the course of the disease were very different. Call the facility and ask every day if you feel it’s necessary.

Some possible issues:

1.   Who develops the treatment plan?   The treating doctor, who in my experience sometimes is a facility employee and sometimes has his/her own practice and treats at the facility?   Or the facility staff?  

2.   The facility  may be short staffed if employees are off b/c of the pandemic, and may be pressed just to get regular treatment and services accomplished.

3.   For whom did you leave messages, and how many?  Administrator, DON?  
The doctor?

4.   What could work better for the facilities is to provide a message to the receptionist advising of actions taking place and when a plan is expected to be developed. 

5.   What I think also could work is for someone at the facility to request e-mail contacts for relatives, parents, etc. and provide a daily email update.  That would significantly minimize phone calls.

6.   By way of explanation but not an excuse, the facility may be so overwhelmed that they're focusing on treatment and care first, with contacting relatives a second issue.   That's not necessarily an excuse, just a possible explanation. 

In fact, that's what I would suggest, as it would minimize work for the staff and also keep the families updated.  

How long has your mother been at this facility?  Are you pleased with their services otherwise?

I was told that LO (age 92) was being tested, when she was identified as testing positive, and if I would approve of the proposed care plan.

I requested that she NOT be hospitalized unless there was absolutely no alternative, that she NOT be placed on a ventilator (as per HER legal directive), and asked if she needed hospice and that if possible, she receive a visit from a Priest.

Everything went as I had requested, and I always got to speak to SOMEONE when I called the facility, but very few if any calls were made TO ME, reporting on her condition. The care staff was just too busy to call, and I knew that.

I hope your LO does as well as mine did, dp1956.

Keep calling and know that unfortunately it is the "squeaky wheels" that will get the oil in these times. Clearly the facility is entirely overwhelmed now caring for people who are ill. You cannot imagine, unless you have seen it, what is entailed simply in dressing to enter isolation and undressing to exit it. All hands are now very very busy. It will be difficult, as you can imagine, to respond to families adequately. So sorry you are facing this. Do know that they will not be able to give you a prognosis. That is clear with all cases of covid. The treatment plan will be monitoring for shortness of breath, taking temps, O2 oximetry to measure oxygenation, transfer of patients to facility as needed. There is little in the line of medication until/when/if complications ensue. Basically Aspirin and monitoring.
Wishing best of luck to all, and hope you will update as you learn more.

Wow, to me that sounds quite negligent on the part of the facility your mother is in, to not even call you first off that she tested positive, and then to not return your phone calls in regards to her prognosis and care. I would be upset as well. You deserve some answers, so keep calling the facility. Every hour if you have to. I pray that you will get the answers you need, and deserve soon, and that your mother will recover quickly. God bless.