Tags
Alabama, dr. Scott Harris, fix this, Governor Ivey, group homes, pandemic, quarantine, safer at home, special needs adults, state of Alabama, unfair
It has been ten weeks today since we have seen our daughter in person. Ten weeks since we were on the way home from out of state and had to make a quick decision. Ten weeks since we were traveling home to who knew what when it came to our small businesses and closures. We thought, if there is a virus going around she will be safer in a quarantined space while we sort out our businesses. We knew we would be around a fair amount of people so we made the decision to allow her to remain in her group home safe and secure, free from the virus. Who could have known that this quarantine would have gone into all of these weeks for the “vulnerable”?
Assisted living and group homes are put into the same category as nursing homes so although Megan is physically healthy, she is put into the vulnerable category. Because of this, she is on lock down. She doesn’t leave her home, doesn’t see her family, doesn’t get to make her scheduled Doctor visits. Yet another special needs adult I know who lives in a city south of us goes to work every day from her group home. A city that was hit much harder by CoVid than Huntsville was.
The Caregivers come and go from the Group Home. They go home to their families and to whomever they see during their off time but then they return to the group home to care for the residents. This, of course occurs in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living facilities as well. How can it not? Yet is this a safe and secure environment for our vulnerable still? We are told that their temperatures are taken but we know that this virus is asymptomatic. Infection could be happening long before it is recognized. These businesses are doing what they need to do with their staffing and doing the best that they can. But what is the difference between a Caregiver going home to their family and a residents’s family visiting them?
Yes, there is a large population at a nursing home facility. But in a group home? Why must they be lumped together? And what of the emotional and mental impact on these residents? The depression that comes from not seeing family has to be impactful.
Ten weeks of not leaving the house or a facility will affect anyone emotionally or psychologically. To be in the same place, day in and day out and not allowed to see family is troubling. They need to see the people they trust most.
I implore you, Governor Ivey and State Health Official Dr. Scott Harris to rethink this “one size fits all” approach. I need to see my daughter and I’m sure I speak for many others who want to see their children as well. Now you tell us to wait until July 3rd. Fix this. Please.