Dr. XinQi Dong, director of the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy and Aging Research at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, is available to comment on the coronavirus’ impact on the nation’s nursing homes.
“Many elderly nursing home residents have chronic diseases and additional conditions that put them at greater risk of complications from COVID-19 infection. For patients who struggle with cognitive decline and mental illness, isolation requirements may pose an additional threat to their health and well-being,” said Dong, a geriatrician and population health epidemiologist who has published extensively on violence prevention, elder justice and healthy aging. “Nursing homes need additional resources to combat threats such as coronavirus. We must prioritize screening and testing, implement strict prevention measures and guidelines and ensure funding for research on how to protect nursing home residents going forward.”
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