HUNTSVILLE, Ala. —
A Boaz nursing home has had more than 10 percent of its residents test positive for COVID-19. We spoke with them to see what steps they’re taking to stop the spread.
The elderly population are at a heightened risk for complications due to COVID-19. So, you could only imagine the shock when not one or two-- but, eight residents tested positive for the disease in this Marshall County nursing home.
Branchwater Village is an assisted and independent living facility in Boaz, Alabama. Like many homes across the country, everything has been changed by COVID-19.
The discovery of the first resident with COVID-19 came as a surprise. It all started when one resident fell and had a hip injury. We spoke to Tim Giraldin, the CEO of Cottage Senior Living, the company that owns and operates Branchwater Village. Giraldin tells our reporter, “Where they were going to be sent for rehab required that they’re going to be tested. And when they got tested, it came back positive for COVID and they notified us.”
Then, another patient had a health scare. Giraldin says, “His pulse-ox was low. We then notified the family and the doctor and admitted him to the hospital where he tested positive.”
Giraldin says a doctor came into the facility and tested all residents. Now, eight of the 43 residents have been confirmed to have COVID-19. We're told all residents are asymptomatic. Officials say they’re taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe. Giraldin says, “The staff is completely trained on the PPE. They’re wearing masks, gowns, gloves… We have a fresh change of clothes for when they come into work that are kept and washed there. So they’re not bringing something in.”
We’re told they’ve already deep cleaned the facility. Giraldin says, “Now we’re just trying to add an outside company with a full hazmat and disinfect the entire facility. We’re trying to get some of the UV lighting units to bring them in.”
Tim Giraldin tells us residents and staff are checked multiple times a day for temperature and other vitals. He adds, “You can’t take things too lightly and I think everyone out there needs to be hyper-vigilant.”
And even with all the changes, staff are finding a way to keep residents’ spirits high. Giraldin says, “The staff has been doing things like hallway bingo, but they do it at their door. So they have things they do to try to keep them entertained.”
The facility has stopped visitation since early March.
Right now, all the infected patients are hospitalized. They have not yet set a date for when those residents will return.