With more cases of norovirus appearing in the western United States, the Goldman Mature Market Report sought out a medical professional for information on the virus and her views on the dilemma it could pose to the senior living industry and some possible solutions.

Ilene Goldman, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., of Norfolk, Virginia, explains that one of the most important first steps about preventing an outbreak is correctly identifying the virus and understanding how it will affect seniors.

Defined, norovirus is a single stranded RNA virus known to infect the gastrointestinal tract causing acute and sometimes severe gastroenteritis, nausea, vomiting, low grade fevers, body aches, fatigue and dehydration. It has no cure and there is no specific treatment.

Goldman states, “Norovirus is something that must run its course since antibiotic and antivirals are not effective. When dealing with seniors, supportive care, such as IV fluids and electrolyte replacement, is required to prevent dehydration and other complications.”

Once a case of norovirus is suspected, Goldman says a person should be isolated immediately since the contagious nature of norovirus is an especially serious threat to the safety of senior living environments.

"Norovirus can spread relatively quickly, with multiple residents and staff becoming ill at once. Should an outbreak occur at a community, one of the biggest challenges would be adequately staffing a unit."

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Attracting and maintaining capable people to handle the hands-on work at senior living communities is a critical challenge. If your company is facing this issue, consider this question – have you looked into teaming with the Workforce Investment Boards in the state or states where you operate?

An issues brief recently completed for the “Better Jobs, Better Care” coalition says that the senior living industry should consider partnering with these boards, which are the planning and funding bodies for workforce development regionally. The brief cites five wide-ranging examples of how senior living providers are successfully working with Workforce Investment Boards in Pennsylvania, Oregon, Michigan and elsewhere. To read the brief, click here: bjbc - workforce development issues brief.pdf.

The Workforce Investment Board system is an outgrowth of the 1998 federal Workforce Investment Act. Under this system, regions and localities across the country are operating One-Stop Career Centers that work with both companies and jobseekers – the goal is to train the jobseekers for positions the companies offer, and to place them in those positions. Dorie Seavey, who authored the issues brief, says “senior living employers’ understanding of how far these centers have come is lagging behind where they really are.”

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Baby-boomers aren’t prepared emotionally or financially for Alzheimer’s, and they say not enough is being done to fight it … that’s the news from a survey just released today … click here: http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.asp?n=1&lnid=380000782