Turkey has set an example for the world with its COVID-19 measures at nursing homes, according to Dr. Irshad Ali Shaikh, the international organisation’s health security director in Turkey.
So, what did they do?
Orhan Koç, head of the services for elderly and disabled at the country’s Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services, which runs the homes, told WHO officials that they set up guidelines for measures at their 426 aged care homes – which house 27,500 residents – two months before the first COVID-19 case was reported in Turkey.
The country also allocated a certain number of hospital beds and ventilators to its elderly at a higher rate than in other nations.
All nursing homes are currently not accepting new admissions, while residents are restricted from leaving.
Mr Koç added they imposed a 14-day shift system for the staff – the number of days for the virus to incubate – and each staff member is tested between shifts.
Isolation floors and rooms were also set up in the homes, with any residents testing positive were transferred to hospitals.
Those with symptoms are also hospitalised for 14 days regardless.
“Other countries prefer keeping the residents at nursing homes even if they are infected. We follow a contrary policy of treating them at hospitals,” Mr Koç said.
Residents and staff also undergo daily checks for symptoms.
Dr. Shaikh has labelled the measures “very impressive” – to the point, the WHO will compile a report on the measures to release so other countries can benefit from their policies.
Turkey currently has over 129,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus according to Johns Hopkins, with just over 3,500 deaths recorded.
