OHCA The Oregon Caregiver Spring Summer 2021

The Oregon Caregiver SPRING/SUMMER 2021 www.ohca.com 10 FEATURE » FEATURE, CONT. Greer Gardens, we’re taking those steps toward normalcy. We’re safely and carefully having large group activities again and opening dining rooms. It feels wonderful,” said Frederick. As the inoculation period set in for long term care staff and residents, hospitaliza- tion and fatalities plummeted. By the end of April, the CDC cited COVID-19 hospitalizations among Americans 65 years and older plunged to less than 30 percent (a 70 percent reduction) of the rate it had been at the end of last year, indicating the vaccines are working. In March, CMS data showed that nursing homes across the country had seen an 82 percent decline in new COVID-19 cases among residents since its peak in December 2020 when there were more than 30,000 new resident cases. In the same period, community cases in the general population dropped by 46 percent, showing that vaccines are having an impact in protecting the elderly population in nursing homes. Oregon data across all long term care facility types also shows sharp declines in COVID-19 cases. Read Walt Dawson’s report on trends and Oregon data on page 14. Despite the positive data trend, there are still people who are apprehensive about getting vaccinated. “Getting the shot was absolutely worth it,” said Frederick. “You think maybe I might possibly feel flu-like symptoms for a day or two from the shot, but I don’t need to worry about being hospitalized with coronavirus. My experience with it was not problematic at all and I would encourage anybody who is just wavering to take the time and do a little more research, listen to people, like myself, who has been vaccinated, get their stories and their experiences, and then make the decision. I am 100 percent encouraging people to take the vaccine,” said Freder- ick. “Let’s play cards again with our friends and let’s go to concerts again and let’s travel and let’s get back to normal!” Rosewood Memory Care received the Pfizer vaccine through its pharmacy partner. Hernandez says one person felt dizzy and nauseous after receiving the shot but says none of her residents had any serious side effects. “Don’t just automatically say, ‘no.’ Do your research and talk to people who’ve had the vaccine. You feel so uplifted after you’ve had it because you feel like, ‘I did my part in keeping not only my family safe, but other people I come in contact with safe,’” she said. The Springs at Greer Gardens staff get vaccinated.