Situation
Roughly 11% of all COVID cases in the United States come from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Veterans living in VA nursing homes – called Community Living Centers (CLC) – are a particularly vulnerable population at high risk for complications. Strict infection control needed (e.g. screening processes; personal protective equipment; restrictions on non-essential visitors) may add to the social isolation of CLC residents and place additional burdens on care providers and allied health professionals. Additionally, a shortage of personal protective and medical equipment place additional stress on the care providers at the CLC. Our nation’s capital has a single Community Living Center located at the Washington DC VA Medical Center; it provides 24/7 long and short-term care for its 120 residents who are recovering from or living with a variety of medical conditions requiring skilled comprehensive nursing care. (As of December 2020)
Mission
Operation Golden Shield will meet the immediate needs of the residents and care providers at the Washington DC VA Medical Center’s Community Living Center during the COVID pandemic by delivering a requested list of high-priority items in individually packed care packages through a community mobilization effort – while maintaining social distancing and wearing proper PPE.
After Action Report
Operation Golden Shield successfully constructed and delivered 120+ individually packed care packages to the residents of the DC VA Medical Center's Community Living Center, in addition to a blanket donation of essential medical equipment and PPE to their care providers.
More Information
John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html
Department of Veteran Affairs COVID-19 National Summary:
https://www.accesstocare.va.gov/Healthcare/COVID19NationalSummary