SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Un estudio reciente indagó sobre las razones por las que ciertos asilos tienen tasas mucho mayores de COVID-19 que otras, y dice que dos factores determinantes son fuente de contratación y características demográficas.

El reporte destaca por qué el COVID-19 se expandió tan rápido este verano en los asilos de California. Encontró que en los asilos expertos que cumplen con los niveles recomendados de Enfermeras Registradas, tenían la mitad de infecciones comparado con los que no cumplen con las normas.

Y las tasas de infección de coronavirus son tres veces más altas en las instalaciones con gran cantidad de pacientes Africano-Americanos, según información tomada de la Fundación de Atención a la Salud de California (California Health Care Foundation), que comisionó el reporte. Kristof Stremekis, miembro de la Fundación, explica:

"En California la gente Negra y Latina es impactada desproporcionadamente por este virus, y necesitamos asegurar que esas instalaciones que atienden a pacientes Negros y Latinos tengan los recursos que necesitan para tener la gente a salvo."

El reporte dice que los factores de riesgo han cambiado con el tiempo. En mayo las estadísticas mostraban que los asilos con fines lucrativos tenían tasas de infección entre cinco y seis veces mayores que las instalaciones sin fines de lucro y las que son propiedad del gobierno. Pero en Agosto otros factores de riesgo tuvieron prioridad, con tasas mayores observadas entre pacientes masculinos y gente mayor de 85 años.

El reporte recomienda que el estado refuerce la vigilancia de las instalaciones de asilo y que pidan niveles más altos en el personal de atención. Stremekis dice que, mientras las vacunas están disponibles, los datos guiarán las decisiones sobre dónde aplicar los recursos primero.

"Eso nos permitiría jerarquizar cosas como la distribución de PPE, la distribución de la vacuna, para llevarla a quienes más la necesitan."

Desde enero hasta mitad de noviembre, casi 30 mil personas en los asilos de California contrajeron el virus, y más de 4 mil 800 residentes de asilos murieron. La AARP tiene muchos recursos en línea para las familias que estén preocupadas sobre el coronavirus, incluyendo una lista de preguntas para hacerlas si algún ser querido está en un asilo.

Usted puede encontrar más información en aarp.org/coronavirus (en inglés) y aarp.org/elcoronavirus (en español).

Si gusta usted ayudar apoyando las noticias del interés público, haga "click" aquí (texto en inglés).

Oregon is working to address the state's digital divide with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding.

Infrastructure presents the largest challenges for connecting people in Oregon to high-speed broadband internet.

Nick Batz, director of the Oregon Broadband Office, said there are more than 170,000 residencies in the state with no or slow internet access.

"Our goal through the broadband office and with all our stakeholders throughout Oregon is to provide access to all 112,000 unserved locations and as many of the 60,000 underserved locations as we can," Batz explained.

The state has received federal funding from a variety of sources, including nearly $690 million from the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, and more than $150 million from the Capital Projects Fund approved in the American Rescue Plan Act from 2021.

Oregon's Digital Equity Plan has also been approved and along with it, nearly $10 million in funding.

Bandana Shrestha, state director of AARP Oregon, said there was a time when high-speed broadband internet was considered a luxury.

"Now, it's such a big necessity for everyone, including for older adults," Shrestha pointed out. "Because we know that if you don't have connectivity, you're not going to be able to see your doctor when you want to. Telemedicine is not going to be possible."

Batz added his office is working to ensure every Oregonian can get on the internet.

"It is an interesting challenge," Batz observed. "Nothing has been done like this in Oregon's history of trying to get internet access to everybody. So, it's going to be quite the challenge and it's absolutely going to require participation from everybody to make this happen."

Nursing homes across South Dakota will soon receive a boost in support, as part of the most recent legislative session.

Facilities caring for Medicaid recipients are reimbursed by the state for some of the cost. Reimbursement rates have been calculated based on patient needs, occupancy and funds available in the state budget. Last year, the South Dakota Legislature increased the rate from about 75% to 100%.

House Bill 1167 now allows the Medicaid reimbursement rate to be adjusted annually, to keep up with inflation and other changes.

Erik Nelson, advocacy director for AARP South Dakota, is glad lawmakers are giving nursing homes attention.

"We have seen a number of nursing homes close in recent years," Nelson pointed out. "Financial considerations were a factor in that, along with workforce and some other issues."

Since 2019, 15 nursing homes have closed across the state, with six of the remaining 98 on a federal list of facilities not meeting basic standards of care. In addition to a lack of funding, the average staff turnover rate is 54%.

State lawmakers also approved the use of $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding toward expanding telehealth services in facilities including nursing homes, allowing patients to receive some health care services remotely.

Nelson noted telehealth is one way to supply needed support.

"For not only the residents, but the family caregivers that are supporting their loved ones in the nursing homes," Nelson emphasized. "And of course, the staff of the nursing home that's in the community."

Census data show South Dakota's population is aging and by 2030, one-fifth of residents will be older than 65.

Meals on Wheels programs could be a powerful tool for addressing the needs of people living with dementia, according to a study from Ohio State University researchers.

The community-based program delivers weekly meals to food-insecure seniors.

Lisa Juckett, assistant professor of occupational therapy at Ohio State University, conducted interviews with caregivers, people living with dementia, and the staff of LifeCare Alliance, the largest Meals on Wheels provider in the state. She said the findings revealed delivery drivers are often a critical source of social interaction and an "extra set of eyes" on homebound individuals.

"That Meals on Wheels driver is then able to perform very brief but important wellness checks and safety checks," Juckett explained. "To make sure that meal is actually being delivered, the door is being answered."

According to Meals on Wheels America, last year more than 90,000 Ohio seniors received over eight million home-delivered meals through the program. More than 80% of people with dementia in the U.S. live at home, and an estimated 60% are unable to eat or prepare food on their own.

States rely on a combination of federal funding, private donations and fundraising agencies to keep local Meals on Wheels programs operating. Juckett added the findings come on the heels of Congress deciding to cut funding for the Older Americans Act, which allocates money to Meals on Wheels programs nationwide.

"Meals on Wheels programs are always on the chopping block, when it comes to federal budgets being adjusted every year," Juckett pointed out. "We need more advocacy efforts to validate or justify the importance of these programs."

According to the group Alzheimer's disease International, more than 55 million people around the world live with dementia, a number expected to double over the next two decades.