I am in vanquish about this. Mom 91 has been in NH for a week and a half. The plan was for her to go back to ALF. She was recently hospitalized with a partial bowel obstruction. Not the first time this has happened. When I was notified that there was a gastrointestinal outbreak at NH and they had closed wings, cancelled all activites and were discouraging visits, I immediately contacted them to be sure my mother's symptoms were not being mistaken for GI if it was the obstruction. What was reported assured me. I have had regular updates. I sent her a letter though staff so she knew I was thinking of her and aware. Her temp has reduced, she is still having diarrhea which would probably not be happening with the obstruction. Staff says she is now very agitated asking if I know and is certain she has an obstruction. Staff says they cannot and would not prevent me from visiting but wouldn't advice it either until she is not actively presenting. I am torn up with guilt not going, but not sure I would do one bit of good if I did.
Hang in there!
Angel
But God willing this will be over before you've had much more time to worry about it. The purely practical thing to do is to follow policy, send her a daily email if the staff are up to printing those off in large font size for her, or a post card if they're not; and explain that everyone needs to practice good infection control for the sake of everyone in the NH - and that means no visitors.
But if it goes on too long, or if meanwhile something comes up that makes you want to check up on her and the care she's getting, then get over there and just be rigorous about procedure - hand washing and gel before, during and after the visit; clothes straight in the washer immediately after; go straight to her room, avoiding other patients; and definitely don't go if you have any kind of bug yourself. Ask the NH if they advise any other precautions: it'll earn you Brownie points with them, and it'll do no harm for them to know someone else is paying attention to how they're handling infection control.
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