Patricia Almes has no qualms with how Life Care Center of Port St. Lucie took care of her 92-year-old mother.
Pearl Nina, though, was one of four residents at Life Care Center who died this month from complications of COVID-19.
The recent outbreak stands in sharp contrast to one month earlier — prior to Gov. Ron DeSantis moving Florida into Phase 2 of its reopening — when the facility reported no cases.
Life Care Center has the most cases and deaths of any long-term care facility on the Treasure Coast this month, but it’s not alone in its increase of cases, which typically are first seen with a rise in cases among staff.
As long-term care centers once again aggressively fight the virus, which had been relatively dormant in the facilities for a month, it again raises questions about the safety of local long-term care facilities, which are facing a greater number of COVID-19 cases than seen statewide.
“I think I talked to Life Care the day before, and they said, ‘Oh, she’s fine.’ She looks great,” Almes said about her mother. The next day, June 8, “all of a sudden, you’re spiking a fever of 102.”
More: State agency waited until COVID-19 was present to inspect long-term care facilities
What’s changed: Spike with staff
The picture inside the Life Care Center was very different three weeks ago.
It reported no cases of the coronavirus on June 6, the day after DeSantis moved the state to Phase 2. Except the virus likely already was present. Medical examiner records show a resident from there sent to the hospital with COVID-like symptoms on June 3.
One week later, Life Care Center reported 29 residents with the virus, plus six staff members positive for COVID-19. It's unclear whether staff members, now living in a region with newly relaxed restrictions, brought in the virus.
"Knowing that this is an unprecedented time, analyzation of all aspects of data collected and processes will be ongoing and fluid," St. Lucie County Department of Health spokeswoman Arlease Hall said in a statement. "When cases of COVID-19 are found in long-term facilities, all residents and employees are notified."
Since DeSantis moved most of the state to Phase 2, relaxing many prior restrictions, deaths from the coronavirus related to long-term care facilities have nearly doubled on the Treasure Coast, to 41, and the number of cases has more than doubled, to 246, according to a TCPalm review of state long-term care data from the last month.
The number of facilities reporting positive results of the virus also has increased.
More: Public officials were left in the dark while The Broadmoor ALF battled the coronavirus
The growth in deaths and infections in recent weeks follows a nearly one-month period in which new deaths at nursing homes and assisted-living facilities remained relatively unchanged.
And while the Treasure Coast is seeing an increasing number of cases and deaths at its long-term care facilities, that's not the case statewide, where only a gradual increase can be seen.
The trend is familiar: First, a staff member becomes sick, and soon after, residents pick up the virus. In some facilities, that can ignite a deadly outbreak.
In March and April, the same cycle occurred, and led to two of the deadliest outbreaks of the virus on the Treasure Coast, at HarborChase of Vero Beach, with five deaths, and The Broadmoor ALF in Fort Pierce, with 12 deaths.
More: The Broadmoor ALF has more COVID-19-related deaths of any assisted living facility in Florida, according to state data
State data and interviews with family members of residents at long-term care facilities in the region show a general trend of infections first being brought in by staff. Many staff members at long-term care work for low wages, which can lead to more challenging living circumstances and a greater chance of catching the virus.
At Terrace at Hobe Sound, 22 staff members are reported to have the virus. On June 6, the nursing home reported 15 cases among employees.
Among 17 facilities in Martin County, there currently are 41 cases of residents with the virus and 116 cases of infected staff members.
Since March, DOH-Martin staff have built relationships with staff at these facilities and have provided daily calls to identify any unmet needs, such as PPE, and discuss any questions or concerns they may have,” Martin County Department of Health spokeswoman Renay Rouse said in a statement.
In Indian River County, HarborChase continues to report cases of the virus, nine among residents and two among staff. Rosewood Manor of Vero Beach has seen a recent spike, with 10 resident cases and one staff case.
Among 14 facilities in Indian River County, there are 32 cases among residents and 50 among staff.
Testing has been frequent in Indian River County, Department of Health spokeswoman Stacy Brock said. On Friday, the department tested staff and residents.
“The department continues to work with long-term care facilities statewide to ensure that they have the appropriate resources, including PPE, to keep residents and staff safe,” she said in a statement.
In St. Lucie County, there are 57 resident cases and 80 staff cases among 13 facilities.
Joshua Solomon is a watchdog and government reporter covering Martin County. You can reach him at 772-692-8935 or joshua.solomon@tcpalm.com. Support our local journalism.
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