Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) During the COVID-19 Pandemic-Lessons From the Asian Approach: A Narrative Review.
Laura Calcaterra, Matteo Cesari, Wee Shiong Lim
PMID 35085508WHAT IT FOUND
Asian long-term care facilities during the pandemic used several infection-control measures: visitor limits, quarantine, testing, staff monitoring and technology.
The review does not show which measures changed outcomes.
Key findings
01Facilities adopted several preventive measures, including hand and environmental disinfection, testing, social distancing, staff controls, quarantine, visitor limits, admission policies and technology.
02Residents with cognitive impairment who need help with daily activities were described as especially vulnerable to social isolation, and some facilities used exercises, cognitive training and 30-minute accompanied walks.
03Resident and staff close contacts were quarantined for 14 days, followed by 14 days of daily temperature and symptom checks.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a narrative review of published guidelines and reports, not a study that tested patient outcomes. The search covered only July 2020 to April 2021, so later evidence and variants are not included. The included sources were editorials, reviews, government guidelines, letters and perspectives, so much of the material is descriptive rather than measured. The paper does not say how many residents or staff were involved in any facility. The authors state that the true number of long-term care deaths remains uncertain, so country comparisons are weak.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these measures reduced infection or death. The review lists policies adopted in several Asian long-term care facilities and does not report outcomes or compare facilities.