UPDATE: Long-Term Care Facilities Hit Hard By COVID-19; Shady Nook With Multiple Cases

Approximately 38 percent of COVID deaths in Indiana have come from nursing homes.

Update published May 15:

For several week, rumors have been swirling that Shady Nook Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has had a COVID-19 outbreak. 

The Dearborn County Health Department confirmed to Eagle Country 99.3 on May 4 that one local long-term care facility has had to deal with multiple cases of the virus, but was unable to confirm the facility was Shady Nook. 

On Friday, Shady Nook shared that a discovery of the virus was first made in their facility on April 17. A spokesperson told Eagle Country 99.3 that a number of in-house residents tested positive for the virus. 

While a specific number of positive tests and/or deaths within the facility was not disclosed, Shady Nook is far from the only nursing home to be hit hard by COVID-19. 

Statewide, 38 percent or 584 of COVID-19 related deaths have occurred within a long-term care facility. The Indiana State Department of Health reports that 197 LTC facilities have had one or more positive cases, while 121 facilities have reported at least one COVID-19 related death. 

A Shady Nook spokesperson made the following statement: 

Shady Nook is another example of a facility that seemingly did everything right but is now fighting the invisible virus that causes COVID 19.  We restricted access to the facility, screened employees, obtained and utilized PPE; (following) all the CDC and Health Department guidelines well before our first case.  We have been consistently rated above average by the United States Center for Medicare Services and, while no person or facility full of humans Is perfect, we acted very responsibly in regard to COVID preparedness.

After discovery of the virus on April 17, staff reached out to the Department of Health who have been nothing short of remarkable in their thoughtful and supportive approach.  We secured universal testing through the ISDH Strike Force and the COVID Plus Team; PPE has been miraculously in strong supply (given international shortages); we segregated those who tested negative from those who tested positive; closed fire doors and created many barriers of transmission.  Able staff showed courage, professionalism and compassion and did not flee as has been reported in other facilities.  They were and continue to be heroic.  Families have generally been kind to staff and found new ways to communicate with loved ones.  Their presence, while not physical, is felt strongly and greatly appreciated by residents and staff alike.

At this time Shady Nook has a number of in-house residents that have tested positive. As has been the case in the minority of facilities that have employed universal testing, the number of positive residents is higher than expected as many residents were asymptomatic under CDC guidelines.  In other locales, the asymptomatic residents would not have qualified for testing. However, Shady Nook proactively ensured testing for all residents. We do not at this time have a vaccine or an FDA approved treatment plan for the New COVID virus, yet we must and are doing our best with imperfect and incomplete data.  Scientists are still debating and hypothesizing about how the virus spreads; its symptoms; and effects.  We do know that some people, including those who were at baseline very ill, will pull through; while others who were seemingly healthier will not.  It is also likely that not all people who tested positive will develop symptoms.  Seemingly healthy people in our community and outside of our community can silently carry and potentially transmit the virus. The goal remains to provide the same quality of Care for our most vulnerable population during these uncertain times.

I urge you all to please stay as safe as you can, and to protect yourself and others from you as anyone can be an asymptomatic carrier. Thank you for your continued support of our brave healthcare heroes on the front lines: the nurses, aides, housekeepers, dietary workers, maintenance, therapist and other staff who at great personal risk and sacrifice are caring for our beloved residents at Shady Nook.

Lastly, we would like to thank the community for all of the support that has been and continues to be shown to our facility.

Best,

Shady Nook Team

Original story published May 4:

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Approximately 36 percent of COVID-19 related deaths in Indiana have come from long-term care facilities.

That is according to new data from the Indiana State Department of Health.

Of the 1,151 deaths statewide, 420 have reportedly come from LTC facilities or better known as nursing homes.

The ISHD reports that 173 facilities have at least one positive case of COVID-19 and 105 of those facilities have reported at least one COVID-19 related death. As of this week, the ISHD reports that 45.4 percent of ICU beds and 80.5 percent of ventilators remain available throughout the state.

Cassandra Dick, a public health nurse, R.N. with the Dearborn County Health Department, says most local nursing homes have remained unaffected.

“They have done exceptionally well utilizing PPE,” said Dick. “Unfortunately, one facility has had to deal with multiple cases.

Health officials at the state and local level have declined to identify which nursing homes have had the biggest outbreaks, including the local facility with multiple cases.