How the lockdown impacted on nursing home residents
In the talk show ‘The Corona Dialogues – How do we move forward after Covid-19?’, hosted by Tilburg University and NEMO Kennislink, Professor of Elderly Care Katrien Luijkx had the floor.
Katrien Luijkx talked about the ‘dire dilemma’ when nursing homes were closed in the corona crisis. There is broad consensus about the need for people-centered care, taking into account as much as possible the needs and wishes of the elderly. However, in the corona crisis quality of life was subordinated to health hazards: residents could not weigh for themselves the risk of contracting corona against enjoying social contacts.
Looking back on the lockdown, it now transpires to have had a tremendous impact on nursing home residents. Both residents and their relatives appreciate the measures were necessary, but they feel they were in place for too long and were possibly too drastic. Also, they did not feel heard. ‘Precious time has been taken from us,’ some residents commented. A key lesson is that next time we should consult residents and their next of kin the moment such severe measures are called for.
Katrien Luijkx on the impact of the lockdown on nursing home residents and the lessons learned
Date of publication: 18 June 2021