Nursing home hit hard by pandemic tries to set example for future of elder care

December 13, 2020 10:39 am

Darren Botelho,

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – An East Providence nursing home had more than a dozen COVID-19 deaths since March, but now they’re trying to be an example of future elder care in our area.

Linn Health and Rehabilitation was hit hard by the pandemic with more than three dozen cases.

“We’ve had 15 people who have passed away and all others have recovered,” Richard Gamache, CEO of Aldersbridge Communities, said. “Currently we have one [COVID case], but the gentleman is hospitalized.”

The nursing home also lost money with administrators having to buy new equipment, supplies, and with staffing issues during the pandemic.

“There have been financial loses and the CARES Act money replaces that,” Gamache said.

The non-profit received $1 million from the state, and part of that money will go towards upgrades to Linn Health and Rehabilitation that would help prevent outbreaks.

“What our goal is here is to convert 11 rooms from double rooms to single rooms. Complete with their own shower,” Gamache said.

That would bring the number of private rooms from four to 15, possibly by March, which would be a few months after staff and residents are expected to be vaccinated; that’s expected to start this week.

“Even though you get the vaccine what we’re being told is you could still become infected and still be a carrier; it’s just you have a 95 percent chance of not getting sick from COVID,” Gamache said.

Gamache said creating more private rooms would not only help stop the spread of COVID, but also help improve the day-to-day lives for residents at Linn Health and Rehabilitation.

“I’m hoping that if one good thing comes out of this pandemic [it’s that] there’s a lot of focus on elder care now, and perhaps now we can get it right,” Gamache said.