Michelle (not her real name) is from one such family and she shared the tragedy of how her 93-year-old grandfather lost his fight to the virus at an aged care facility in Petaling Jaya.
“About two weeks ago, we got a call that seven of the 10 residents and all but one of the four staff members had tested positive.
“With three of the caretakers forced to quarantine, the whole burden fell on the remaining staffer, who had to manage all the elderly folk, both those infected and those who had tested negative,” she said.
According to Michelle, the family was informed that no doctors were available to come to the nursing home, thus leaving the facility to largely fend for itself.
She said they later learned that the sole worker who had tested negative was the only caretaker without medical experience.
“My grandfather was the second resident to have died in the space of two weeks. With the virus out of control, places like these aged care homes must be under a lot of pressure.”
Michelle now questions the lack of guidelines and medical attention paid to these vulnerable residents at the aged care facility.
“Why were these elderly residents who had tested positive told to quarantine at the home. Most of them only have mild symptoms but they were members of a vulnerable group.
“I think there needs to be clearer guidelines given to these homes on what should be done if there are cases within the facility. It seems that the staff and residents were left to fend for themselves,” she said.
“If factories have specific SOPs for outbreaks, how about homes for the elderly?”
Michelle said she doesn’t blame the nursing home, as they are doing their best to manage a difficult and quickly evolving situation.
“I just hope people can be more aware of what these elderly persons are going through so that the right action can be taken.
“My grandfather’s passing should be a cautionary tale. These people need to be taken care of, and there’s only so much these homes can do.”
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