WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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Indiana nursing home centers have seen higher numbers of COVID-19 cases in both staff and patients. According to a statewide total, Indiana has reported 4,086 positive tests and 876 deaths, including 461 new positive tests at nursing homes and 144 additional deaths of nursing home residents.
State Department of Health officials refused to release the number of coronavirus cases and deaths from individual nursing homes.
In late May Monroe County’s Golden Living nursing facility had the highest surge in coronavirus cases. A report from May 22 displayed out of all 126 residents, 13 tested positive for the virus, on May 23 the number of cases jumped to 45 among 124 residents. It was reported on Friday an additional 49 residents tested positive out of 119 living residents, 109 nursing home employees had tested positive for the coronavirus.
When reporting on Friday’s number, The Golden Living Center patients were never included since Monroe County reported no new positive COVID-19 tests or deaths. According to the Herald-Times, when asked about the situation a public relations officer for Indiana State Department of Health would not comment.
State health officials told the H.T. that communication among families and loved ones could be more difficult, with nursing homes not equipped with social media to express the total number of cases and deaths,
“As similar lag can occur in reporting of deaths. ISDH is providing aggregate data for long-term care facilities but has directed facilities to communicate their COVID status with residents and families, because that is the most efficient means of ensuring that timely communication occurs,” said state health officials to the Herald Times.
This quote went out of proportion at Linton’s Glenburn Home, which saw a surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths earlier this month. The director of the facility reported that too much misinformation was being spread on social media. She then decided to report her findings. Glenburn posts the number of positive cases and deaths daily on their Facebook page, updating their information daily. A May 29th report from Jean Johannigsmeier reported no positive cases at the nursing home, three residents were hospitalized with the virus. She reported that 71 residents had recovered from the coronavirus.
It is unknown why the patient population declined during the past week, it was not reported whether the facility sent residents home, to the hospital, or if they died from the virus. On the numbers, Golden Living Center Executive Director Elizabeth Price did not answer our request for comment.
