Northwood Rehabilitation and Health Care Center significantly impacted by COVID-19 – Lowell Sun

LOWELL Stephen Lemire said he called Northwood Rehabilitation & Health Care Center three or four times when his mother, a 94-year-old resident, first developed COVID-19 symptoms.

The nursess station line would ring, but no one would pick up. When someone did, the Tyngsboro resident was put on hold for long periods of time, he said.

No one was answering. Period, Lemire said. He wanted to know what the deal was, and when his mothers test results would be in.

Just over a week ago, Lemires mother, Rita, tested positive for COVID-19. She is currently holding her own in isolation within the nursing home, but Lemire still worries about her care.

Northwood residents have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus, according to spokesman Tim Brown. Last week, the National Guard tested at least a dozen Northwood residents for COVID-19, according to Brown.

We are devastated that patients in our care have contracted this virus, however we do not have any associated deaths to report, Brown said.

A number of health care workers have also tested positive for the virus, Brown added. As of press time, Brown did not report the number of residents and staff who have tested positive.

It has concerned me completely that this nursing home is totally not transparent, Lemire said. It is resistant to everything. Its acting as though theres a cover-up where there doesnt need to be a cover-up

By speaking with his mother and other Northwood staff, Lemire said he has learned that a number of employees have called out sick. He said there are only about two nursing aides currently working on his mothers wing.

No one is coming to respond to my mother when she is putting on her call button, Lemire said. There have been times when his mother has called a family member, who then had to call the nursing home to get assistance.

The number of Northwood health care workers in self-quarantine has posed staffing challenges at the nursing home, Brown said.

We are doing all we can to fully staff the center, and there have been no interruptions in care at this time. Staff members initially afflicted are already beginning to return to resume their important roles, Brown said in a statement.

The Lowell Public Health Department communicates with the citys nursing homes daily and provides them with personal protective equipment, according to Interim Director JoAnn Keegan. One of Lowells two public health nurses regularly discusses infection control, specific cases and family communication with the facilities, Keegan said.

There is monitoring, there is assistance with attempting to isolate quickly and identify quickly those that are symptomatic, Keegan said.

Several nursing homes in the area have reported more than one case of COVID-19, according to Keegan.

Last week, local elected representatives called for transparency at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley in Littleton, where 14 residents have died of COVID-19. As of Monday, 52 of Life Cares 75 current residents had tested positive for the virus.

U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, the Littleton Board of Selectmen, state Sen. Jamie Eldridge and state Rep. James Arciero sent a letter to Life Care Centers of America President Beecher Hunter requesting that he immediately alert public health authorities of any confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 contamination within your network, including cases in which flu-like symptoms are exhibited.

Brown said Northwood is doing all we can to protect our residents and staff. The nursing home is cleaned multiple times per day with a focus on frequently touched areas, and only direct care staff enter residents rooms, he said.

And we are monitoring our personal protective equipment and requesting additional equipment from the state to ensure our staff has the protection they need to keep them and residents safe, he continued.

Brown added that Northwood holds weekly conference calls with families, and provides weekly email and individual updates.

This is about a virus that were trying to get a handle on, state Rep. Thomas Golden said. But when you have some of the most vulnerable population, you know, housed in the same area, thats something that we need to take into consideration.

Lemire said he has considered taking his mother out of Northwood. But right now, he believes she is safest there in isolation, as opposed to a hospital where she might be exposed to other illnesses.

For the time being, shes fine where she is, he said.

Two or three key staff people do a wonderful job caring for Lemires mother, he said. But heaven forbid these people who are really burned-out get sick, then thats it, he continued.

We encourage any residents and family members to contact us with any questions they have about the care we are offering. Our commitment is to be as transparent as possible and work to address any issues that arise, Brown said.

Read more:

Northwood Rehabilitation and Health Care Center significantly impacted by COVID-19 - Lowell Sun