Rehab Select Blog

We are beating back COVID-19. As of May 14, 2021, over 35% of the U.S. population has had both doses of an approved vaccine. The moving weekly average of cases continues downward; however, this is not the time to assume that treatment innovations can stop. We have seen firsthand how tough this virus can be on vulnerable populations and how diverse and complicated its effects are.

Marie Curie once said, "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the United States. In Alabama, as of April 17th, there had been over 4000 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and 172 deaths. Of those fatalities, 72% were aged 65 or older. The Center for Disease Control reports that older adults and those with underlying health conditions are most at risk of developing more severe illnesses as a result of coronavirus infection. Inpatient rehabilitation facilities and other long-term care facilities are at particular risk, and strict safety regulations are therefore in place in facilities across the United States.

In the US, coronavirus has caused over 40,000 deaths as of April 21, 2020, the highest percentage of whom are over the age of 65. The risks of coronavirus have impacted one particular group the hardest: patients of long-term care facilities. The level of care provided isn’t the problem; it’s the unique setting and medical statuses of the residents that pose the biggest risk.

Typically, residents of these facilities tend to be an older demographic with underlying medical conditions who live in shared living spaces. This particular combination of factors makes residents of rehabilitation centers highly susceptible to risk.

Let’s take a closer look at the risk factors for coronavirus and how to keep your family members safe.

In this time of rapid change and global crisis, it can be hard to know how to best support your loved one if he or she is in an inpatient rehab facility. At Rehab Select, we take our responsibility to our patients and their families incredibly seriously. During this global pandemic, that means that we are abiding by strict regulations to ensure patient safety and well-being.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the medical facts known about the coronavirus, the current federal and state regulations that apply to inpatient rehab facilities, and the guidelines that we are following to ensure patient safety and well-being at all times. We will focus on how you can support our efforts to keep your loved ones healthy while they remain in our care, and why social distancing is an absolute must.

Right now, we’re experiencing an unprecedented experience together as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. Although many of us share feelings of uncertainty, we can find proactive ways to minimize our exposure and to be encouraged by the discoveries that are being made every day. We can find comfort in the many proven strategies to combat the virus together.

One fact researchers do know is that certain populations appear to be at higher risk when exposed to the virus, especially seniors living in long-term facilities. It’s important that these facilities follow stringent safety measures to reduce the risks of exposure to vulnerable residents as much as possible.