God, yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
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God, yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
We've always known governments are not responsive enough and have no incentive to provide excellent healthcare when it is easier to ration it. I think the irony is that most won't acknowledge it.Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
I cancelled everything routine but if I had something serious going on would definitely go in.
It's not just elective surgeries but things like cancer tumor operations that have been cancelled. The government is out of control. Every week in my state it's some new restriction although the disease is trending downwards some. I'm waiting for someone who can't or won't pay a civil fine for not wearing a mask to be jailed. That's the next step in the trajectory we're on.
Maybe in that state. But maybe only there. Cancer tumors is precisely the type of things restrictions were lifted for here last week, and that was not a lift of the lockdown and the disease is not actually trending down in some parts of this state (at best it's level under lockdown), it was a lift of some medical procedures, colonscopies too, so if anyone is just dying to get a colonoscopy now and they are in CA, it is their lucky day.
https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/04/22/go...ovid-19-surge/
Don't you wish your governor was hot like ours I guess, because if Newsom can figure out how to handle medical treatment (which was contingent on the medical system of the state not being overwhelmed with covid and it's not at this point) it shouldn't be impossible.
Justin Trudeau is hot too.
If the hospitals in a given state are financially sound, then I would say the state governor might be hot.
Otherwise... a slow motion train wreck in hospitals.
Except for San Francisco and New York City, health systems across the USA are experiencing a decline in patient volume. Nationally it has been a drop of 56% from 3/1/20 to 4/15/20.
California overall -50%
Florida -47%
Texas -56%
Illinois -59%
Source: Crowe LLP
Wow, those numbers are really high, aren't they.
Good article imo. It seems besides the testing being insufficient (and yes total cumulative cases are not current cases obviously although this thing is pretty new yet), that the tests are delayed enough (still, does anyone know?) that when we look at test results we are seeing results from the past not the present, like looking at distant long burned out suns in the sky (I mean ok they are not quite *that* delayed but).
I suspect there to be an uptick in cases here soon, not because we aren't still under lockdown, we are, but people are following it less and less I think. But even if there was would it even show up until a month from now or something. Hospitalization is one thing and they do look at it (well local govts anyway, not sure the Fed gov is looking at anything much), deaths sure but that's very much delayed obviously.
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/a...tainty/610819/
Serious question. How many tests are actually needed to establish a reasonable diagnosis? How many tests at great expense and use of resources are a CYA expenditure? Telemedicine is possibly going to clarify if a lot of hospital visits are necessary or not provided the medical people get their payment schemes worked out and electronic records are universal to all providers on a 'need to know basis'.
Thank Goodness! My mother sees the surgeon on Tuesday for what has been determined to be a cancerous lump on her breast. 88 yo. I'm scared for her for the cancer and for simply being in a medical environment with the virus!Quote:
Originally Posted by ApatheticNoMore
Okay... getting personal here and posting more than I normally do on a public forum... But am I really the only one on the forums that this is hitting so close to home? I'm definitely glad! as I would hate anyone to go through having someone close, or even semi-close to them, die during these times. No viewings; only 10 people graveside or - most cases - cremation.
Three people I have hugged in real life have died in the span of 2 weeks - two from virus. (2 extended family) and now this with my mom. This is all hitting WAY too close to home for me!
Sorry... I'm rambling and I'm angry and I should probably take a hiatus before I put in writing something I will regret later.
Hugs to all. Stay safe and pray for EVERYONE!
You are NOT the only one that is angry about the way this has played out, specifically with how it is affecting care for the elderly, both medical and the more human aspects of human contact. As in my 92 and 93 year old parents seem to have been put in a solitary confinement, in what is possibly a life time sentence. I am furious and frightened and sick about it.Quote:
Originally Posted by happystuff
I think it is terrible that your mother has had to wait to have a cancerous tumor removed. I hope all goes well this week, and I am glad she is finally able to see someone.
So you are not alone in your feelings, at all.
Happy, I hope that the cancer was caught early. My mom got it when much older and was able to avoid chemo by letting them take the breast. By not having chemo she recovered much faster. I don’t personally know anyone that has died from the virus but it’s just a matter of time.
158 deaths were attributed to covid-29 yesterday in my state, down from a high of 252. Hospitalizations and ICU beds devoted to covid are also down. But our dictator governor is not satisfied with improvements no matter how substantial and keeps tightening the vise. Masks are mandated starting Wednesday. Ohio"s governor realized people did not want a mask mandate and rolled it back, but not in my state. Baker was the most admired governor in the country. I bet that changes. Two adjacent states are opening back up, but even the rural largely spared parts of our state are not. Local media are not covering the protests here. I have to find out from the national media.
I wore a mask this weekend 3 places. 1 I was fine as it was early in the day. The other 2 it was later, warmer, and the businesses were not running A/C. I felt nauseous (gas station removed it as soon as I got outside) and claustrophobic and faint (another store - I took it off as staff weren't wearing masks, but in 2 days I lose that right). If this mandate is interpreted that I have to wear a mask for 8 hours a day at work I will probably pass out.
I think Governor Baker is doing an excellent job managing the pandemic. If we are going to have a successful reopening any time in the foreseeable future, masks will be necessary in public, IMO. I don't think anyone likes them or finds them particularly comfortable and I agree that it will be even less pleasant as the weather gets hotter. I'm assuming those ventilators are even less pleasant, though. If our healthcare workers can wear masks for 12-hour shifts, I figure I can deal with wearing a mask at Market Basket.
From footage I've seen neither those living in nursing homes or prisoners are being made to wear masks all day, although they can't social distance and that is where most of the hotspots in the state are. I expect the prisoners would riot if forced to wear masks. In this regard they are more free than the rest of us.
@ Yppej,
Kudos on wearing the mask despite the discomfort.
If you have the flexibility to wear a stretchy thin fabric (to comply with the restriction, not to be a barrier like an N 95 mask) you might consider a "Natural Life Womens Half Boho Bandeau". I have one in a black and cream floral pattern, bought from Amazon. I wear it to shop. I find that it is not overly hot, it is easy to breathe with it on, and my glasses do not fog when I have it on. I am a guy, and wearing "Women's" articles (at least, this article, anyway) is kind of fun! <wink>
Be Well
Thanks, Dado, will look this up! I haven't been able to make a mask yet that I can wear without getting dizzy.
It's an engineering problem, for sure.
And if a nursing home worker or prison guard brings covid into the facility there will be lot of death. Especially the nursing home. But, yay, they didn’t have to wear masks while they were dying.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yppej
Thanks, Dado, I will check it out as well. I had one but gave it away but with my hair getting longer, I need an alternative hair cover, so why not make it a mask?
MiL's assisted living has restricted residents to their rooms. Their meals and even their mail are brought to them. There is no social distancing since there is no congregating. The entire staff wears masks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yppej
How would you like to have seen your parents’ situation handled?Quote:
Originally Posted by Tybee
Thanks for reading my post, IL. I'm not in a place where I am ready to discuss this; the grief and fear is too strong right now. I'm sure you can understand how family members would feel under these circumstances.
I can't even tell if my feeling a tiny bit dizzy after the supermarket is due to mask or due to the fear and anxiety caused by going to the supermarket! :laff: I really suspect it's anxiety, fear will do that.
I am thankful governors on the West Coast are standing strong and slowly phasing activities in, personally. I'm fine wearing a mask and would stay far away from anyone not wearing one at this point.
I have a n95 mask and can only wear it for short periods of time due to asthma and allergies. The homemade ones I can wear much longer. They aren’t mandatory here but I think they should be.
I'm wondering... are family members able to discharge patients from nursing homes and take them home to live with them and take care of them themselves? It seems this would alleviate a lot of the stress and fear that people are having over their inability to visit family members. And it might be a safer place for elderly people to be as it would expose them to much fewer germs. And for those who do succumb to the virus at least it would give the family a chance to say goodbye and be with their loved ones in their last moments.
When my father passed away, his whole family was able to be there with him. He was VERY lucky. I think if he was in one now I would try to get him out and get him home if possible.
A properly-fitted N95 mask is objectively harder to breath in, and without proper technique provides quite a bit less air exchange, causing CO2 buildup inside the mask and fatigue. I had to keep a co-worker from keeling over the other day during a strenuous task.Quote:
Originally Posted by Teacher Terry
"The results showed a mean increment of 126 and 122% in inspiratory and expiratory flow resistances, respectively, with the use of N95 respirators. There was also an average reduction of 37% in air exchange volume with the use of N95 respirators."
https://academic.oup.com/annweh/article/55/8/917/265317
My understanding is that it's possible to do in Minnesota.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geila
However, most folks are in nursing homes and assisted living facilities because they pretty much ought to be there. The homes of the children/siblings in which they would end up may not be adapted at all for a patient's particular disability, whether it's being unable to manage stairs, problems with balance, dementia, etc. Bringing them "home" also presumes somewhat knowledgeable people around to prepare (or even feed) meals, help toilet and bathe, help stand up or sit down, deal with dementia-related behaviors, etc.; not all of which would apply, of course).
Not to say it couldn't be done -- it's what people used to do before all these facilities existed. But for folks in assisted living or nursing homes, the home of a family member may be freer of germs but not necessarily freer of hazards.
Another steep drop in daily covid deaths, from 158 to 86, and all other indices are down too - fewer cases despite more testing, fewer hospitalizations, etc yet my governor continues to fearmonger. Our latest extension of draconian measures is set to expire 5/18 and now the line from the administration is not phased opening then, but just that a paper from a commission outlining phases for reopening with no timeline will be released. I bet if the number of deaths fell to zero the governor would still be saying, "Be afraid, be very afraid, the sky is falling." The idea of setting up a committee to study something is a classic stalling technique.
On a positive note a coworker gave me a cloth mask his wife made that I do okay with when I walk out into the public areas of the building. Wearing it is not mandatory but I do it because if we make customers wear masks I think we should also when around them. We have 5 managers and 2 managers in training and none of them wear masks even when around customers, but some of the rest of us are.
Maybe like this?Quote:
Originally Posted by iris lilies
https://apnews.com/fd1600f3d39055b9060cd7442568c739
R.I.P Maurice Dotson, CNA, who until his death worked for West Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Austin TX.
You see people dying around the world. The main place they're dying is in nursing homes. Why would they not use more precautions? -- Felicia Dotson, sister of Maurice Dotson
www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mikesallah/nursing-assistant-devoted-to-elderly
Just heard the death rate is likely to double by August ..... 132,000 based on opening of states. We shall see.
The caretakers at that nursing home are heroes!!! I cannot even imagine staying quarantined that long at work.
I would guess that as being hit by end of June :(Quote:
Just heard the death rate is likely to double by August ..... 132,000 based on opening of states
I wonder if more Americans will begin to care for elderly relatives at home like some cultures do. Since I don't have kids, it won't be an option for me, but I do wonder if people in general will be less likely to use the nursing homes and assisted living facilities after this. When possible, of course. I thought this was an interesting article on the subject: https://khn.org/news/should-you-brin...-the-pandemic/ The 101-yr old woman in the article is in amazing shape and hilarious!
I'm so glad that we have the technology to communicate with doctors via email, phone and video. This past week I was able to have "visits" with four doctors and it was easy, convenient and it didn't even cost me a cent! Prescriptions were mailed promptly except the two that were urgent and I was able to pick those up right away, without any problems. I was also able to get bloodwork done quickly and safely. Yay! for technology!
Considering that NONE of the states that are majorly opening up have met the stats for being ready to open I would personally suggest that you praise your lucky stars that you have a cautious governor. The next few months are going to be a nightmare bloodbath of needless death in some states. And with treasonous-trump praising the death cult protestors the pressure on the rest of the governors to do the wrong thing and open up too soon will undoubtedly prove insurmountable for some.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yppej
If we go into another decades long Great Depression jp1 we'll see if you still feel that way. My late neighbor told me how he supported 12 people because he was the only one in his extended family who could get a job. The Grapes of Wrath is fiction but the hunger it portrays was real.
My parents are 79 and 81 and I get the fear of losing someone, but folks like that are retired and can stay home. There's no need to shut down the economy for everyone else. The average age of a covid death is 81 in my state. It's not shut down OR open with a mask. It's shut down so you can't even get a haircut for months AND wear masks even when you're not going into businesses. The mayor of Boston actually scolded joggers and bicyclists for not wearing masks never mind that you could hyperventilate and pass out. It's beyond caution, it's taking away basic rights including freedom of religion. The Christian Bible says do not neglect to assemble yourselves together (Hebrews 10:25). I will be interested to see if a religious freedom case makes it to the Supreme Court.
Well said, JP, and this is certainly how I feel.Quote:
Originally Posted by jp1
I suppose if one is ok with the idea that a majority of folks living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities will die, then sure, let’s go for herd immunity.
Personally I’ve always been of the opinion that there is no question for which the right answer is the one that results in 100’s of thousands of additional deaths. Other people may feel differently.
Well, thanks to Dado's excellent suggestion, I have ordered three new masks, using the hair bandeau and gaiter designs. I wasn't going to spend the money but as my husband reminded me, we're going to have to wear these all summer, so why not see if I can't find something that doesn't mess up my breathing. They're even pretty. Will report back on how they function, once they arrive. I have high hopes for the gaiter style because it is for motorcyclist use in the summer, to repel dust.