As the swine flu – and the hysteria surrounding it – spreads, senior centers throughout Queens are taking extra precautions, despite the fact that H1N1 “is not playing by the rules,” according to Dr. Robert Mittman, a Bayside immunologist in private practice who said that he sees 20 to 25 cases of confirmed flu per day.
Mittman explained that most flu strains thrive in cold weather and start out with severe symptoms.
The H1N1, he said, began in the warmer weather, and was mild. Now, however, said Mittman, this so-called “second wave” of swine flu is a “more virulent strain.”
“Patients are coming in much sicker,” he explained.
Mittman also noted that a “standard flu” is most dangerous for young children and the elderly; the H1N1, he said, seems to be affecting school-age children and those in their 20s to 40s.
In addition, he said, it seems to be staying within the school system – meaning H1N1 is affecting students, staff and their families.
Despite this, numerous senior centers throughout the borough are being extra cautious.
“We encourage hand washing by residents and visitors and have a very strong hand-washing policy for the staff,” said Susan Catherall, the Infection Control Officer at Ozanam Hall of Queens Nursing Home, a 432-bed geriatric and rehabilitation facility in Flushing. “There are signs promoting ‘cough etiquette’ and we monitor for infection patterns. Ozanam Hall has a multi-level response plan, up to asking people not to visit.
We would lock down in an emergency, if instructed to by the Health Department.”
Ozanam Hall even went so far as to ask staff members with children in the closed schools not to work. In addition, they curtailed the “Junior Volunteer” program.
“They range from grade school to high school students who escort the residents, play cards, open mail for them – they really look forward to the volunteers’ coming,” said Catherall. “Everyone’s disappointed but they understand.”
At the Forest Park Senior Center in Woodhaven, Director Donna Caltabiano said she speaks to the seniors about hand washing, and has moved hand sanitizer dispensers into the hallways for ease of use.
“We’re going to encourage them to use that,” she said, noting that most are extremely aware and cautious themselves.
“Just today [Monday, May 18] someone [admonished] someone else because they sneezed and didn’t wash their hands right away.”
Lucy García, Associate Director of the Elmhurst Senior Center, said that the Center has been in constant communication with the city’s Department for the Aging (DFTA) and it is passing along any information it receives about the H1N1 virus onto the seniors that utilize the facility.
“We haven’t seen any [patients with the virus] so far, thank God,” García said.
And at the Dry Harbor Nursing and Rehabilitation Services in Middle Village, among other measures, they are warning patients that they shouldn’t have any visitors who are under the weather visit the facility.
“If their families tell them they are not feeling well, they shouldn’t come,” said Barbara Russo, Registered Nurse and Clinical Coordinator, Infection Control. “We want them to be protected.”
