Mask requirements are coming to an end in Washington state on Saturday, more than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic.
But the transition could be stressful for some. Dr. Trenton James – a psychiatrist for Kaiser Permanente in Seattle – said stress, fear and exhaustion are normal responses to this health crisis.
He said people shouldn’t ignore the strain the pandemic has put on mental health – and can take care of themselves in other ways to help alleviate that stress.
“Identify good self-care routines and stick to them,” said James. “You know, I often encourage my patients to be kind to yourself and focus on the basics, like going for daily walks. Even being able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine, when we do get it, and breathing in fresh air.”
Washington, California and Oregon have all decided to lift mask requirements for indoor settings on Saturday.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also has revised its recommendations, saying people who aren’t in counties with high transmission rates can go without masks.
But Kaiser Permanente and other hospitals in the Evergreen State still are recommending that people wear masks in crowded settings and public indoor spaces.
James said many folks are feeling COVID fatigue and some are even angry at the policies designed to keep people safe. He described these as typically secondary expressions that stem from fear, anxiety and depression.
“Another really important thing is just to be able to seek out help when you’re overwhelmed,” said James. “And there’s a lot of uncertainty right now, but keeping in mind that this won’t last forever.”
James said it’s also important to keep in mind that official guidance on masks and other safety policies could evolve as the pandemic continues, so people should follow the latest guidance from state and federal authorities.
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Oregon lawmakers have concluded the legislative session with a measure aimed at alleviating the state’s nursing shortage.
In it’s final week, the Legislature passed House Bill 4003, a measure that will allow nursing students to gain a license so they can work with limited duties and gain experience in hospitals.
Idaho and Washington already have similar nurse intern licenses.
Jana Bitton, executive director of the Oregon Center for Nursing, said there was a shortage of nurses before the pandemic, but COVID-19 has made the problems worse.
“A lot of people that I’ve talked to, within the nursing community and outside of the nursing community,” said Bitton, “all have horror stories of themselves or a family member or a friend who’s become ill, with COVID or with something else, and having to go to the emergency room and sitting through extraordinarily long waits to be able to see a provider.”
Bitton said the shortage is greater in certain work settings and rural parts of the state.
Some critics have balked at the idea of student nurses providing care. The Oregon Nursing Association says the bill is a great first step, but more is needed to alleviate the shortage.
Bitton said the newly created license will also help ensure that future nurses can support themselves.
“That licensure is really going to help nursing students,” said Bitton, “who need to get a place where they can practice their skills while they’re in school, give them an opportunity to make money and support their education. But it will also help workplaces enhance their workforce.”
The bill also expands a wellness program to registered nurses so they access free therapy sessions. Bitton said the pandemic and other events like wildfires have taken a mental toll on nurses.
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South Dakota continues to grapple with staffing shortages at nursing homes, and a new report found some might not be able to recover financially.
The findings, issued this week by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), showed between 32% and 40% of nursing-home patients in the U.S. live in facilities considered financially “at risk.” Separate reports showed close to half of South Dakota care facilities are dealing with staffing shortages.
Mark Deak, executive director of the South Dakota Health Care Association (SDHCA), said it is a dangerous mix in trying to provide quality care for the state’s older residents.
“The pandemic has just exhausted our caregivers and nursing homes,” Deak observed. “Certainly, it’s hit other providers in the health-care sector as well, but not as hard as it’s hit nursing homes.”
While staffing shortages existed before the pandemic, the AHCA report noted other factors add to the challenge, including higher operating costs, which have prompting calls for better Medicaid reimbursement rates.
Deak acknowledged South Dakota recently increased its rate by 10%, but it still lags behind other states.
Advocates argued when a skilled-nursing home does not have enough money to recruit and retain staff, it creates a domino effect. Deak worried there will not be enough options, because the facilities are struggling to operate.
“You can’t take folks that are being discharged from the hospital or who need your services,” Deak pointed out. “It makes it very difficult, and sometimes, it gets to the point where, in fact, you have to close your doors.”
According to the SDHCA, nine nursing homes in South Dakota have closed over the past five years. Deak added it creates big problems especially in smaller communities, where these facilities are key contributors to the local economy.
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New York is among several states with medical aid-in-dying bills introduced this legislative session.
A recent poll found residents are more likely to vote for candidates who support medical aid in dying.
Asm. Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, has been trying to get medical aid in dying passed in New York for a few years. She said the New York Medical Aid In Dying Act would allow people diagnosed with a terminal illness and of sound mind the right to make a personal choice.
“It’s really just a matter of dignity for people during a very horrendous time in their life,” Paulin explained. “It’s so reassuring for people to have a prescription that they know that they can use at any time if their pain becomes unbearable.”
Paulin acknowledged the bill does not currently have enough support among Democrats or Republicans to move out of the Senate Health Committee, where it was referred at the beginning of this year.
Jim Lee, CEO of Susquehanna Polling and Research, which conducted the survey, pointed out with 68% of Republicans and 70% of Democrats polled in support, it is not a partisan issue.
“It was a real personal issue for them, so we didn’t see that there was stronger support with one political party or the other,” Lee reported. “The fact that we have strong consensus on this type of medical issue, I think, speaks volumes.”
Kim Callinan, CEO of Compassion & Choices, which commissioned the poll, said it also showed strong support across the religious spectrum, including among Catholics.
“While the Catholic hierarchy is opposed to medical aid in dying, they are not speaking for the people that are sitting in the pews,” Callinan asserted. “66% of Catholics personally want the option of medical aid in dying available.”
Washington, D.C., and 10 states allow medical aid in dying, including nearby New Jersey and Vermont.
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