According to data released in the past week, in West Hartford there have been 78 deaths among nursing home and assisted living residents from COVID-19.

By Keith M. Phaneuf and Jenna Carlesso, CTMirror.org

West Hartford-specific information provided by Ronni Newton, We-Ha.com

Nearly 2,500 elderly residents of Connecticut’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities died from the coronavirus through Wednesday, according to data released Friday by Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration.

The report also showed COVID-19 deaths and infections among nursing home residents grew at slower rates for the fourth consecutive week as Connecticut tries to contain the pandemic.

“We again express the importance of understanding that the spread of COVID-19 is a reflection of the pernicious character of the virus and is in no way a reflection of the quality of the health care facility – or the care it provides,” representatives of the assisted living and nursing home facilities wrote Friday in a joint statement. “The ongoing and extraordinary efforts of the employees of Connecticut’s nursing homes and assisted living communities in this battle against COVID- 19 must be recognized.” 

Mag Morelli, president of Leading Age Connecticut; Matthew Barrett, president of the Connecticut Association of Health Care Facilities; and Christopher Carter, president of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association, also attributed the declining death and infection rates to a mid-April containment initiative crafted by the Lamont administration and the industry. 

The two groups designated specific nursing facilities to receive COVID-19-positive elderly following their release from the hospital.

Morelli, Barrett and Carter also warned that social distancing to protect the elderly has become more crucial since Lamont expanded allowable business activities on May 20. “All Connecticut residents can play a critical role in protecting nursing homes and assisted living communities by doing what they can to contain the community spread of the virus,” they wrote.

A total of 2,190 nursing home residents have died from the coronavirus, including 263 between May 14 and May 20 – the period covered in the latest report. That’s an increase of 13.4%. 

Deaths among this group had risen by 15% during the week ending May 13, by 30% through May 6, by 63% through April 29 and by 105% through April 22.

Reports before mid-April had understated coronavirus-related deaths among nursing home residents. Local health officials initially didn’t disclose to their state counterparts the untested seniors who’d displayed COVID-19 symptoms before dying.

Infections also are growing at a slower pace in nursing homes.

The latest report says another 928 residents became infected between May 14 and May 20, bringing the total for the pandemic to 7,875. That’s an increase of 13%. 

Infections among nursing home residents had grown by 17% through May 13, by 24% through May 6, by 41% through April 29 and by 100% through April 22.

In West Hartford’s nursing homes, there were 65 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported in the past week, for a total of 231 through Wednesday, May 20, according to data reported by the state. The cases represent 44% of West Hartford’s total positive cases as of that date.

A total of 74 residents of West Hartford nursing homes have died as a result of confirmed or probable COVID-19 causes, data shows. They represent 84% of total West Hartford deaths (88) reported as of that date.

Debbye Rosen, a nurse with the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District, said Tuesday that the testing of nursing home residents has been completed, but not all of the results have been received.

Statewide, several nursing homes have reached the triple digits for infections among residents.

Arden House in Hamden recorded the most, with 170 COVID-19 cases. Litchfield Woods in Torrington logged 127. Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center in East Hartford and St. Joseph’s Center in Trumbull had 121 cases each. And Silver Springs Care Center in Meriden had 120.

Five other nursing homes reported cases of 100 or higher: Branford Hills Health Center, Westside Care Center in Manchester, Beacon Brook Health Center in Naugatuck, Bride Brook health & Rehabilitation Center in Niantic, and Abbott Terrace Health Center in Waterbury.

Riverside Health logged the most deaths – with 57. Kimberly Hall North and Abbott Terrace has 43 each, and Shady Knoll Health Center in Seymour had 35.

Lamont administration officials said more than a week ago that they planned to release statistics on nursing home residents who had recovered from the coronavirus, but no data on that has been provided to date.

Deaths rise at assisted living facilities by 11%

State health officials haven’t been tracking coronavirus cases as long in Connecticut’s more than 130 assisted living facilities. These centers serve residents age 55 and older who need some assistance with daily living activities but not the skilled care provided by a nursing home.

The latest report found 306 assisted living residents spread among 79 centers have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

That’s an increase of 30 deaths, or 11%, from the 276 fatalities reported by 74 assisted living facilities through May 13. The state did not report coronavirus-related deaths in these managed-care communities before that.

Ridgefield Crossings in Ridgefield has recorded the most deaths among assisted living facility residents, with 26, since the pandemic began. Spring Village at Stratford has had 14 fatalities and The Village at Buckland Court in South Windsor and Maplewood at Danbury each have recorded 13.

Total COVID-19 cases at assisted living centers grew from 872 to 973 during the last reporting period, a jump of 11.6%.

West Hartford’s assisted living facilities reported six more cases of COVID-19 in the past week according to data released by the state, for a total of 18 cases.

While no additional fatalities were reported for the week, in combination with the deaths of residents of West Hartford homes, the total represents 88.6% of the the town’s fatalities.

Statewide, Ridgefield Crossings recorded the most cumulative cases, 49, through the latest report. The Village at Buckland Court has logged 38 cases since the pandemic began, and Spring Village at Stratford and The Village at East Farms in Waterbury each have reported 35 cases.

The Lamont administration had released two earlier reports on the coronavirus in assisted living centers – on May 6 and on April 29. But health officials acknowledged those reports, which showed infection totals ranging from 506 to 662, were flawed. 

State health officials, meanwhile, acknowledged that some medical agencies serving assisted living facilities were late in filing, or were missing data.

For more information on the testing of nursing home residents, read this story published May 24 in the Connecticut Mirror.

Reprinted with permission of The Connecticut Mirror. The authors can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected].

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.