BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — As many people are considering taking family members and loved ones out of assisted living facilities and nursing homes during the pandemic, doing so might be a dangerous decision.
Kate Granigan, CEO of Lifecare Advocates in Newton, told WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville that pulling someone out of a home or facility would be emotionally and/or physically dangerous.
"Of course people want to be with their loved ones, and that seems like a very natural response," Granigan said. "The bottom line is, we're really advising people from doing that. She said it can be disorienting, as well.
Taking someone out may cause them to lose their room, which might go to someone on a waiting list once the pandemic is over. According to Granigan, the best course of action is to stay put:
We're having trouble getting people at this point, that are having difficulty caring for their loved one at home. We can't get them into these communities, they are closed for admission. And so once you've taken your loved one out of a protected environment, even though it may feel risky, you can't return them once that care at home becomes too difficult or overwhelming.
Granigan said many of these care communities are coming up with innovative ways to keep their residents engaged while social distancing.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports
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