June 3, 2020
Roughly 600 have died of coronavirus in Worcester County care facilities
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Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Westborough
By Grant Welker
Long-term care facilities in Worcester County including nursing homes have reported roughly 600 coronavirus-related patient deaths, according to state data published for the first time.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has begun weekly counts of deaths for long-term care facilities, with more than half of all coronavirus deaths taking place in such centers. Through Monday, the state reported 4,349 long-term care facility deaths.
In Worcester County, nine such facilities had 25 or more deaths, including 30 each at Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Westborough and St. Mary Health Care Center in Worcester. Three more have had 29 each: Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center in Northbridge, LifeCare Center of Auburn, and The Highlands in Fitchburg. Deaths include those suspected of having coronavirus, even if they weren't tested.
Particularly for nursing homes treating the elderly, the pandemic has hit hard because the oldest segment of the population has been most at-risk. More than half of coronavirus deaths in Massachusetts have been to those 80 or older. Those in that age range have died at a rate of 1,509 per 100,000 people, according to the state. That's nearly five times as much as any other age group.
Gov. Charlie Baker has required all nursing homes to test residents and staff for coronavirus as part of a $130-million funding aid package.
Facilities had a deadline of May 25 to test at least 90% of patients and staff. Of 360 nursing homes required to do such testing, all but 10 did so, according to the state. State offices worked closely with the Massachusetts Senior Care Association to help facilities gain access to testing options. Nursing homes are required to undergo clinical audits based on a 28-point infection control checklist.
Nationally, nearly 26,000 nursing home deaths have been reported to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. That tally, through May 24, comprises data from about 12,500 nursing homes and includes more than 60,000 confirmed coronavirus cases.
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