Tacoma couple in voluntary quarantine as coronavirus has senior communities on high alert
Senior care and assisted living facilities in the South Sound are curtailing activities, limiting visits and entering self-imposed isolation as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in western Washington.
At least one Tacoma couple is in a self-imposed quarantine.
Nursing homes and similar places where people room, eat and socialize together have become a focus of the coronavirus outbreak in Washington after nine people linked to a Kirkland nursing home died of COVID-19. Eight others at Life Care Center became ill with the disease.
A couple at Solstice at Point Defiance, a Tacoma independent living community, had lunch off campus with a niece on Friday. Later, the niece developed symptoms similar to COVID-19, according to Lisa Meinecke, executive director.
“On Monday, she was told by her doctor that she probably should stay in quarantine,” Meinecke said.
Her aunt and uncle, residents at Solstice, chose to put themselves in quarantine for the next two weeks when they learned of their niece’s illness, Meinecke said. Neither of them are ill or showing any symptoms, she said.
Solstice sent a letter to its 148 residents explaining the situation. No one at the facility has symptoms of COVID-19, Meinecke said.
Solstice recently was in 10-day quarantine for an outbreak of norovirus. It was good training for what may come, Meinecke said.
“We’re ready as much as we can be,” she said. Solstice has shut down programming and excursions.
“We’re asking (visitors) not to come in if they having upper respiratory symptoms,” Meinecke said.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and shortness of breath, which may occur two days to two weeks after exposure. The disease is especially dangerous for the elderly and others with weaker immune systems.
At Patriot’s Landing in DuPont, ill visitors are being strongly discouraged, said David Feeney, the CFO of parent corporation Careage. The Gig Harbor-based company oversees 500 residents and patients in DuPont, Renton and Bellevue in both senior communities and skilled nursing.
Because none of its facilities are in quarantine, visitors cannot be banned, Feeney said. However, they are being screened for symptoms, including fever.
“The protocols are very similar to what we’d be doing if we’d have a serious outbreak of the flu,” he said.
Hygiene control, always a top priority, is being reemphasized with staff, he said. Staff is also being monitored daily for any symptoms consistent with or similar to COVID-19. An employee with a temperature of 100 degree or higher would be sent home.
The approximately 200 residents of Patriot’s Landing range from independent living to memory care.
“We have a vulnerable population,” Feeney said. No residents are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, he said.
The company has daily conference calls with its senior staff and is closely monitoring coronavirus developments.
Careage’s properties have enough medical supplies as long as conditions remain normal, Feeney said. He’s concerned about the nationwide shortage of N95 medical masks, gowns, hand sanitizers, infrared scanners and other products.
“They are very, very hard to get,” he said.
Like other facilities around Pierce County, Tacoma retirement community Franke Tobey Jones doesn’t have any residents with COVID-19. The community is following local and federal guidelines for infection control.
The 200-resident community has canceled some events. Other activities will be limited if necessary.
“We are increasing disinfection and as a precautionary measure and are planning for any potential disruptions,” Franke Tobey Jones said in a statement. “Staff and visitors are asked to stay home if they are sick.”
Coronavirus is spread through contact between people within six feet of each other, especially through coughing and sneezing that expels respiratory droplets that land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. The CDC says it’s possible to catch the disease COVID-19 by touching something that has the virus on it, and then touching your own face, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
