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A third of all people who died from covid-19 in Luxembourg were retirement or care home residents according to health directorate Jean-Claude Schmit. Photo: Paul Theodor Oja from Pexels 

Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable to the threat of covid-19--a third of all fatalities in Luxembourg so far have been care home patients and the median age of all 78 people who have died is 85.

While a “return to normal life is currently not an option for nursing homes,” according to health directorate deputy chief Dr Françoise Berthet, several “creative solutions” are being introduced to allow contact between residents and relatives while respecting their safety.

“These are not only contacts by telephone or videophone, but other ways: mailings, drawings, photos or parcels are all gestures of love and comfort, and the possibility of visual contact through glass screens or in the open air with strict respect for safety distance are others,” Dr Berthet told Delano on Tuesday.

“I would like to make an appeal: Be creative, and you will find, in consultation with the management and staff of the accommodation structures, new ways to bring your loved ones the comfort they need, and to be reassured about their well-being!” she added.

Screening

Luxembourg’s health directorate began laying the groundwork for protecting care and retirement home residents in a meeting on 12 March, four days before the country went into lockdown. It published a list of recommendations on 21 March, which were introduced on 30 March. According to Dr Berthet, staff received compulsory training on appropriate hygiene meanwhile any patients showing covid-19 symptoms were tested and isolated. Restrictions on visits and quarantine criteria have since been introduced to protect the patients.

On 20 April, the health department began systematic screenings of care home staff and residents. “This will provide us with a very accurate snapshot of the situation in these facilities, which can help both the managers and the government to decide what reasonable deconfinement measures can be undertaken in the future, although at this stage there is no timetable for this sector,” Dr Berthet said.

Staff shortages

Like many employers in all fields, the elderly care sector is facing staff shortages. Some teams have lost up to a fifth of their staff because of parental leave and illness. This, combined with an increased workload, pushed the department to appeal for volunteers through the govjobs.lu platform, to which some 4,500 people responded. According to Dr Berthet, reserve health professionals were able to reinforce teams, along with third and fourth-year nursing students. “The challenge remains of rapidly integrating these staff into structures. Feedback to date, however, has been very positive,” Dr Berthet said.

Another challenge facing senior citizen structures is the impact of confinement on the physical health of residents. The lack of physical activity leads to loss in muscle strength, balance and even loss of autonomy. Dr Berthet said that the department was working with stakeholders to find solutions to this problem. She added that despite the difficult period, “the morale of residents is positive”.