Nursing home managers are preparing for a prolonged period of closure so as not to jeopardize the tenants

The Corona virus continues to charge victims in the most sensitive places - nursing homes where veterans and senior citizens live. From the time the outbreak of the deadly virus, nursing homes closed the gates to visitors, including family members of the occupants living there.

Demonstration of tenants' families in front of the Maanan nursing home in Be'er Sheva

According to the instructions, except for the caregiver, no one is allowed to enter the nursing homes for fear of infecting the elderly. While many are already talking about a slow return of the economy to the routine, it is clear to all that nursing homes and senior citizens will be the last to exit.

"I estimate that it will take at least a year to a year and a half for the routine visits of relatives of the elderly to be fully restored," says Moshe Toledo, secretary of the ABA (Association of Nursing Homes and Sheltered Housing), which for years managed the Bulgarian nursing home In Rishon Lezion, some of its occupants were injured. "It should be understood that nursing homes have fragile immune systems, such that only geriatric nursing homes can give them complete and complete care. In some places and wards, nursing and respiratory people are. For them, this virus is a death blow and will need to be completely isolated. It's a different story already, but to my mind it's something that doesn't seem to be on the horizon. Until then, nursing homes will continue to provide professional, quality and dedicated care to the tenants who need them - which has been proven to be a home-based framework unable to provide them. "

Many nursing home managers share this feeling: "In my opinion, this situation may take even a year. We hope it will end quickly, but is prepared for any scenario," says Yaron Raz, CEO of Haifa's Spanish Nursing Home, Beit Avraham.

"If God forbid it lasts a year, during which we have to maintain the current routine. That means no one can go into the nursing home. If the tenants and their families want to keep their health and staff healthy, that's what it will be. To me it is clear, and it should be clear to everyone who works. With the elderly. Just as everyone understands that the elderly are the ones who will have to get out of the quarantine last, because they are in the highest danger there is. A year's range is something that is taken into account, and we will deal with that. "

This is a nursing home with 370 residents, including elderly people who are exhausted. About 300 staff are employed there.

"Fortunately, no corona patient was discovered so far. About two weeks ago, I contacted the county physician and asked to have corona examinations for seniors and staff so that even if there were no symptoms, they would not infect each other. I was told that the policy at the moment is not to do such tests. It is very heavy, but I also understand the burden of the Ministry of Health, and I live in the sense that it will soon be here as well, even though the management and staff are doing everything possible to keep the danger away.

"The house has been closed to visitors for almost a month now. Those who come in and out are the crew members. We have soldiers from the Home Front who measure heat and sign health declarations for all employees. There were family members who wanted to come in - but it would never happen, in order to keep my life. Tenants. Currently, tenants and families are making contact through videos. "