Nursing home and adult long-term care facility populations are at the highest risk of being impacted by COVID-19, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control. Over 28,000 residents and workers have died from COVID-19 at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities for older adults in the United States, according to a New York Times database. The virus has infected more than 153,000 persons at 7,700 facilities across the country.

More than 21% of nursing homes in California (over 220 nursing homes) have reported cases of COVID-19, according to information provided by state officials. As of May 13, 2020, confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses in residents of adult and residential care facilities in California for the elderly total 5,971, and 3,492 diagnoses in health care workers at the facilities, including 1,150 deaths of residents. High numbers of COVID-19 diagnoses have been reported in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, San Mateo and Sacramento counties.

Nursing homes in California plagued by COVID-19 have often had problems in the past with proper care, including health violations for infection control and poorer overall quality as measured by more deficiencies in care provided to older residents.

Older residents in nursing homes are at a high risk of being infected by, and dying from, COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 is known to be especially lethal to older adults with underlying health conditions, and because it is so contagious, can spread quickly through congregate facilities, where many people live in a confined environment and workers move from room to room, with the risk of infection substantially increasing as a result.

Full disclosure and transparency of nursing homes and long-term facilities with respect to COVID-19 is critical in order to protect residents and workers, and to ensure family members make safe and informed choices for their loved ones.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in a nursing home or long-term care facility, or if a family member in a facility died following a COVID-19 diagnosis, contact us today for a free legal consultation at 1-866-LAW-4-YOU (1-866-529-4968).