Families who have loved ones in nursing or long term care homes during this pandemic are certainly missing them and vice versa. Recently Georgia News Network’s Matt McClure recently spoke with Bob Stephen, VP of Caring and Health Programs for AARP, who offered suggestions on how to bridge the gap and feel more at ease about senior care.

Stephen said there are six questions every person should ask to safe guard their family member at the nursing home including how their loved one is being protected from the Coronavirus, how communication will flow, if the facility is staffed sufficiently and if not, what are the plans to do so, and what would happen should there be a case reported either with a staff member or resident infected.

The VP of Caring and Health said families should maintain a close connection to their family member at this time. He said that quite often, nursing home residents do not fully understand why their families are not coming to see them, noting it was a heartbreaking situation, but at this time, a necessity for the health and well-being of all.

Stephens said it’s a fact that nursing homes are “ground zero” for the pandemic because residents are often at an advanced age and some with serious underlying health issues.

If you need help during this time, you an go online at www.aarp.org/coronavirus. There is a tremendous amount of research and it is being updated frequently.