Assisted Living Facilities Continue to Struggle with Staffing and Human Connections Amid Covid

In 2020, residents in assisted living facilities were visited by loved ones in innovative ways, such as apartment windows, phone calls and other interactive digital means. Now, as the world opens with the accessibility to vaccinations, these facilities are continuing to struggle in both employment and life satisfaction for residents. 

UWM Student Alexis Carr, 20, is a seasonal certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Shorehaven Health and Rehab, an assisted living facility in Oconomowoc. She assists the nurses by doing tasks such as supplying patients with food, taking them to the bathroom and bathing them. 

Alexis Carr before her shift as a CNA at Shorehaven. Photo: Lexi Carr.

Carr started at Shorehaven when she was 17 years old. She recalls a positive work experience before the pandemic.

“It was really a stepping stone for me to get a foot into the healthcare field,” Carr said. “I want to be a nurse and that is what I’m going to school for.” 

At the beginning of the pandemic, workers at Shorehaven were required to dress in personal protective equipment, which includes medical-grade masks, as well as goggles, gloves, gowns and shields. 

“It is already so hot all of the time because older people live there and don’t have good temperature regulation,” Carr said. “Imagine wearing layers of everything while you’re running around.” 

Shorehaven had to close visitation in the spring of 2020 in order to protect the residents of the facility from Covid-19. Carr saw a noticeable difference in her patients at this time.

According to Carr, many of the residents would not see their families regularly, pre-pandemic. As the pandemic halted visitation, she noticed her patients become lonelier and more depressed. She added that they became less willing to talk, sleep or eat. 

“Those light and fluffy personalities would turn into a whole different person,” Carr said. “You know that it’s not their fault, but you’re never going to supplement the connection that they have with their families. You do your best.”

According to the AARP, deaths in assisted living facilities and nursing homes are on the rise, doubling in one month from September to October of 2021.

57-year-old Victoria Wagner’s mother, Patricia Fischer, lived in Appleton Retirement Community throughout the pandemic. 

Fischer passed in December of 2020. Wagner believes that the pandemic played a role in her death. 

“She didn’t die of the diagnosis of Covid, but she died because of Covid,” Wagner said. “She was lonely and was used to having family around all of the time. We were restricted from visitation.” 

Fischer’s family was not allowed to visit inside the building, besides moving her items in her apartment for one day. They could only visit her through her apartment window. 

Wagner believed that the lack of connection is what made Fischer’s health decline. 

“She really missed family and the connection, even though we could talk from outside or on the phone,” Wagner said. “Not having her family there, I think that’s what did her in.” 

When Fischer was put on hospice, Wagner’s family was able to visit inside as much as they wanted, with precautions put in place. They had to sign in, get their oxygens levels read by a pulse oximeter, get their forehead temperature taken and were required to wear masks. 

Wagner believes that the workers of the retirement community did their best and is grateful for all that they did for her mother, even though they had been experiencing short staffing. 

“I think their response was excellent,” Wagner said.  “They tried to do activities one-on-one in the room as much as they could. However, the amount of CNAs versus the number of patients that were in assisted living was few and far between.” 

Carr had to take a break at Shorehaven because of short staffing. 

“I couldn’t work in an environment where I’m working three people’s jobs,” Carr said. “I’m never going to step away to help somebody else when someone needs me, I’d rather give you my full undivided attention, but I have 50 other things to do at the same time.” 

The best part of working at Shorehaven, according to Carr, is connecting with an older generation and learning from them, even with the hardship of death. 

“I also get to have fun,” Carr said. “I get to do their nails and their hair and stuff like that. That’s my favorite part.” 

According to Wagner, that was also her mother’s favorite part. The CNAs at Appleton Retirement Community would paint Fischer’s nails, as well as make bows and Christmas cards alongside her. 

Patricia Fischer with Christmas cards that she made with CNAs. Photo: Victoria Wagner.

“She made enough cards, so when she did pass I was able to send them out to each of her [6] kids,” Wagner said.

According to Carr, Shorehaven has started to ease up on restrictions. They have opened visitation outside for families of the patients. 

“It is a really big blessing,” Carr said. “You don’t understand how important that social aspect is for them because they don’t get it that often.”