Experience in Community Care in nursing homes during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Section: Práctica Clínica

How to quote

Raya Tena A, Beorlegui Bueno C, Delgado Cortina A, Romera Liébana L. Experiencia de Atención Comunitaria en residencias de ancianos durante la primera ola de la pandemia COVID-19. Metas Enferm sep 2021; 24(7):72-7. Doi: https://doi.org/10.35667/MetasEnf. 2021.24.1003081799

Authors

Antonia Raya Tena1, Cristina Beorlegui Bueno2, Alicia Delgado Cortina2, Laura Romera Liébana3

Position

1Máster en Salud Pública. Máster en investigación en ciencias de la enfermería (URV). Centro de Atención Primaria Dr. Lluís Sayé. Institut Català de la Salut. Barcelona 2Enfermera especialista en Atención Familiar y Comunitaria. Centro de Atención Primaria Dr. Lluís Sayé. Institut Català de la Salut. Barcelona 3Doctora en Medicina. Centro de Atención Primaria Dr. Lluís Sayé. Institut Català de la Salut. Barcelona

Contact address

Antonia Raya Tena. C/ Pujades, 218-220. 08005 Barcelona.

Contact email: arayat.bcn.ics@gencat.cat

Abstract

COVID-19 has caused many deaths in geriatric homes. The commitment by female Primary Care doctors and nurses with the population they manage made it essential to conduct community actions in order to improve the care for these persons.
The general objective was to implement the “Plan of Action for Managing Persons in the Nursing Home Setting and Healthcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic” of the Government of Catalonia, and to adapt it to the specific needs in the centres managed. The intervention was conducted by female Primary Care nurses and doctors, in two nursing homes from an urban area of Barcelona between March and May, 2020. It consisted of three stages: 1) Assessment: Both nursing homes cared for 41 persons (78.6% were female; mean age: 84.5 years). Of these, 100% had a chronic condition, 41.5% presented total dependence, 21.9% presented severe dependence, and 26.8% suffered cognitive deterioration; 63.4% of them were asymptomatic. Lack of materials, infrastructures, and knowledge were detected. 2) Coordination actions: Disinfection of nursing homes by the Fire Department, and extraction of PCR samples, which tested negative in 100% of patients and positive in four caregivers. 3) Health Education Workshop for staff in direct contact with the persons living in the nursing home.
Nursing homes stayed free of COVID-19 until the start of de-escalation by the end of May, 2020. Subsequent contact was maintained with nursing homes. Community intervention might have contributed to the lack of infection cases among workers and persons living in the nursing homes.

Keywords:

Primary Care; community care; nursing homes; infection by coronavirus; Nurse; General Practitioner

Versión en Español

Título:

Experiencia de Atención Comunitaria en residencias de ancianos durante la primera ola de la pandemia COVID-19