WATERLOO-CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (KWWL) - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are expanding efforts to grow vaccine confidence by providing more education to those in nursing homes. The long-term care facilities will also be required to report the vaccination status of residents and staff on a weekly basis.
Long-term care facilities were among the first to get the vaccine, but some continue to be hesitant. Nursing home residents seem to be outpacing the healthcare workers in these settings.
"It really is very important to get vaccinated because we take care of very vulnerable people," Friendship Village Executive Director and Vice President of Health Services Sherry Turner said.
Many nursing and assisted living residents and staff have gotten the vaccine. Friendship Village nursing homes have 100% of their residents vaccinated but only about 60% of the employees have gotten the shot.
"It's been a little harder to get those healthcare workers convinced. It's taking some time," Turner said, "We don't just want to forget. We don't want to just stop trying. We just need to continue to push forward."
As many slowly take off their masks, senior living homes are a bit different. Being a vulnerable population, the older people living in these congregate living situations are encouraged to continue following COVID-19 safety measures.
Bickford Senior Living in Cedar Falls has residents that are a little more relaxed. The home has gone 131 days free of COVID-19, and 30 out of 33 residents are fully vaccinated.
The residents can choose not to wear masks, but the staff still need to do so.
"If wearing masks a little bit longer ensures their safety, we will gladly wear a mask. Their safety is our number one priority," Bickford Community Relations Director Kelcie Loughren said.
COVID-19 is still a concern that exists, but long-term care facilities are doing what they can to ease back to what it used to be.
"Its different. They're getting back together but it's in a different way," Bickford resident Vera Brunskill said.
CMS will start requiring long-term care facilities to report the vaccination status of residents and staff, starting in June. Those weekly reports will be used to see if homes would benefit from more resources, in regard to vaccine education.
When the data becomes available, it will be posted here.
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May 19, 2021 at 07:12AM
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