Oklahoma nursing homes adjust to pandemic guidelines

Oklahoma City, Okla — Governor Kevin Stitt's recent executive order aims to protect Oklahoma’s most vulnerable residents.

The states elderly care facilities are also responding to new guidelines with the pandemic.

Just like hospitals, nursing homes are doing their best to keep enough supplies, and keep their residents isolated.

Some family members are going to great lengths to visit their loved ones.

"The visitation restrictions are across the board," Steven Buck, the President of the Oklahoma Care Providers told Fox 25.

Now that visitation in Oklahoma nursing homes and care facilities is against the law, some have been communicating through the windows to limit exposure while seeing their loved ones.

Buck said, "What I would encourage family members is to remain engaged with the facility ask for the opportunity for facetime visits with their loved ones, phone calls, whatever the case may be."

While some communities are still without confirmed cases of the coronavirus, officials across the board are taking the situation seriously since residents are high risk.

So far, two Oklahoma nursing homes have reported positive cases. One in Ponca City, and seven at Grace Care facility in Norman.

Buck said one of the biggest challenges has been getting and keeping personal protective equipment (PPE) on hand.

"The availability of those resources can truly save lives," he said.

The State Department of Health has been taking inventory of that equipment in hospitals and will soon start doing the same for elderly care facilities.

Officials said that will help ensure that each nursing home across the state will have what they need at any given time.

Until then, family members of residents are asked to be patient, and considerate of the high-risk individuals.

According to Buck, "We know during this time with the restricted visitations that that can be frustrating, and I want to tell you how appreciative we are of the families for understanding that. Those restrictions are necessary to keep these buildings infection free."

As for the seven infected residents in Norman, they're said to be treated in the nursing home for now. If their condition worsens, they'll go to the hospital.