key: cord-302625-evpw6o02
authors: Gaspar, Heloisa Amaral; de Oliveira, Cláudio Flauzino; Jacober, Fabiana Camolesi
title: Home care as a safe alternative in post-acute and long-term care during COVID-19 crisis
date: 2020-10-20
journal: Einstein
DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2020ce6053
sha: 
doc_id: 302625
cord_uid: evpw6o02

nan

Dear Editor, Advanced age and comorbidities are associated with increased mortality related to coronavirus disease 2019 . The high prevalence of this combination, associated with physical environments that provide inadequate barriers to infection control, place patients in long-term care facilities at great risk. There are several reports worldwide about the high mortality related to COVID-19 among residents of long-term care institutions, showing they account for 25% of deaths from COVID-19, in the United States. (1, 2) Percentages are even higher in some US states and European countries. (3) In Brazil, much of post-acute care and long-term chronic patient care is provided at home. Our organization provided home care to 2,931 patients in the first 3 months of the pandemic and reported only 31 cases of COVID-19 (1%) and six deaths. The low incidence of COVID-19 in this population reinforces that home care protects patients and lessens the risk of infections. Patients naturally remain at home isolation and are treated by a team of professionals in a directed way. This, together with proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and implementation of innovations (e.g. telemedicine), are key for safe care.

Shifting post-acute and chronic care to the household environment with the implementation of technology should be a recommended alternative.

Gaspar HA: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7756-4072 Oliveira CF: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3525-3887 Jacober FC: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4470-5435

Duchin JS; Public Health-Seattle and King County, EvergreenHealth, and CDC COVID-19 Investigation Team. Epidemiology of Covid-19 in a long-term care facility in King Country

How to cite this article

Mortality associated with COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes: early international evidence

International Long Term Care Policy Network

Nursing home care in crisis in the wake of COVID-19