A COVID-19-Dedicated Facility for the Care of Older Adults During a Health Emergency: An Italian Experience

J Aging Soc Policy. 2022 Aug 11:1-9. doi: 10.1080/08959420.2022.2110809. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCF) are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. We describe the clinical characteristics, the course of disease, and the care needs of 38 non-self-sufficient adults with COVID-19 in an LTCF specially set up for those who could not be discharged home or to a standard LTCF. Residents spent an average of 30.5 days in the facility (range 4-77 days). Most of them recovered and were discharged home or to their LTCF of origin. It seems feasible to set up dedicated facilities to treat and provide assistance in the activities of daily living to older adults with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; long-term health facility; non-self-sufficient adults; older adults.