All industries have been impacted in some shape or form due to COVID-19, but few have felt the impact quite like the senior, or aged, care industry. The combination of a population at a unique risk to the disease, as well as our initial lack of scientific understanding of the disease, have led to a lot of loss, and uncertainty about how well these facilities can protect their residents.
However, these setbacks don’t mean that there won’t be a place for senior care in the post-COVID-19 world. Quite the opposite, actually. Statistics still show that the population is aging, which means that there is going to be a greater demand for senior care services. Thankfully, the rigors that COVID-19 has put on the industry are also going to help improve the future quality of care. Here’s a closer look at how.
More stringent protection measures: It’s a fair bet to say that the average person is a lot more aware of washing their hands or touching their face than they were before the pandemic. Indeed, there’s a growing awareness of how germs spread, and senior care facilities and businesses are taking things to the next level. For example, plexiglass barriers are becoming common in any public-facing business in order to minimize the risk of transference via particles. Many facilities are taking this to the next level by using items like UV sterilizers to provide cleaner settings than ever before. Making these measures standard is not just about fighting COVID-19, but the long-term. Even after a vaccine is readily available, seniors will always have a higher risk of complications due to weaker immune systems. These measures will protect against the spread of all diseases, not just COVID-19.
Emphasis on telehealth: The entire world needed to suddenly learn how to do their jobs remotely in some capacity when lockdown measures took hold. Now, with those provisions loosening, many are still finding use in allowing things to stay remote. Telehealth is a good example. By nature, senior care facilities are always going to need to have some medical professionals in person on staff to attend to unique situations. However, telehealth may open up avenues to quicker communicate with specialists on resident issues. This can also be an asset to facilities in rural areas where patient transportation for minor issues may pose a greater problem logistically.
General communication: COVID-19 resulted in the entire world essentially learning about how a disease works in real-time, something that we are still learning to understand today. Because of the importance of sharing information and dispelling falsehoods to public health, expect senior care facilities to take more of a forward role in providing information moving forward. This means using platforms like social media more aggressively to share relevant information not just to residents, but to their families and the local community.
A proactive care approach: Many seniors are already dealing with comorbidities that left them at greater risk of COVID-19 complications. As a result, we can expect facilities in the future to further promote activities that support general health, such as more accessible exercise programs and diet programs. We are still learning about what increases COVID-19 complication risk, so proactive health will likely evolve over time.
Layout modifications: When COVID-19 lockdowns started to take place across the U.S., many senior facilities also made some drastic changes, but found some issues. Physical distancing was key for keeping residents safe, but some facilities noticed physical and mental decline from residents who were not able to socialize as much as they wanted to. Smaller room groups, revised HVAC systems, and a complete revamps to the concept of communal dining are all shifts that you can expect to see.
Aggressive marketing/quality push: We have to address the elephant in the room. When COVID-19 struck and its impact was felt across senior facilities, there was a massive increase in the number of people thinking about home care for their loved ones. However, for logistical reasons, not every household is going to be able to do this. Regardless, with a possible portion of their customer base not being available, senior care facilities are going to have to do a better job than ever of marketing their value to keep the doors open. This is a net positive to residents, though. With future customers being more discerning, existing facilities will be improving their standard of care to compete with the idea of home care/aging in place.
With the growing need for senior care facilities worldwide, there’s always going to be a steady trend of innovation moving forward. However, with how earth-shattering COVID-19 has proven to be, this steady innovation has turned into a rapid shift across the board. The end result is going to be not only protection against the disease until a vaccine is available, but an improved standard of care and safety overall.
