A Scotland care home has revealed it was successfully able to avoid the coronavirus after locking down significantly earlier than other facilities, the Guardian reported.
Eskgreen care home in Edinburgh has reported zero cases of the deadly virus, an incredible achievement its staff attributes to their fast and strict response to the outbreak.
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In mid-March, manager Clair Anderson made the decision to shut Eskgreen’s doors, a full week before any other home did the same.
Despite objections from council officials who had not ordered for such action, she made the executive decision to put the health of her 27 elderly residents first.
Not only was the facility closed from visitors, but Anderson also upped its cleaning and instructed residents to start social distancing from one another.
Months later, Anderson is proud to report Eskgreen has not had a single case of coronavirus among its staff or residents.
She credits much of that success to the professionalism of the workers who were diligent in monitoring the residents and wearing PPE, which she explained was made possible thanks to support from the East Lothian Council.
“Though the East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, a hub was set up to ensure we never ran out of PPE,” Anderson told Edinburgh Live . “We can put in an order of what we need and they will have it to us within a day meaning our staff have never gone without.”
“All staff change their clothes as soon as they get here and their uniforms are washed on sight to ensure nothing ever leaves with them.”
Since it locked down so early, Anderson said the home’s staff were dedicated to keeping morale high.
“We have had entertainment like karaoke nights, gardening, games nights, pamper days and Skype session with relatives,” she explained, adding that although they’ve been able to keep people’s spirits lifted, “we are always aware that [the virus] could come in at any time and the situation could change.”
While quick-thinking and early planning saw Eskgreen avoid the virus, other care homes in Scotland haven’t been so lucky.
While the UK-wide lockdown went into effect on March 23, a week after Anderson closed her own facility, various homes across the country experienced internal virus outbreaks.
According to BBC News , there have been 1,861 coronavirus-related deaths in Scottish care homes since the outbreak began.
Of course, while it’s thankfully been spared by the virus, Eskgreen’s residents have still been experiencing the same feelings of isolation brought on by the lockdown.
Staff have set up video calls to keep family members connected, but it’s certainly not the same as being about to physically see them in person.
“We’ve tried to engage people with their families as much as possible, but it has been really difficult,” Anderson told the Guardian . “The general mood has lifted now because it looks like we’re nearing the end of the tunnel, but it was quite dark for a while.”
h/t Guardian , Edinburgh Live
