Many nursing home staff decline vaccine: frustrated families wait for news on visiting restrictions
ARVADA, Colo. — It’s now been one year since Marie Nadeau has hugged, kissed or even held the hand of her 87-year-old mom.
“It’s extremely difficult,” Nadeau said. “I want to hold her, and she needs that, too.”
Although Nadeau’s mom, Fae, has now received both doses of the vaccine, residential care visits in Colorado are still limited, in Marie’s case, to visits through a window.
“We sit out in the cold when we do the window visits,” she said. “I don’t know why I can’t at least give her a hug.”
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says part of the problem is that while the vast majority of elderly residents are getting vaccinated, only about 50% of residential care staff are choosing to get the shot, even though they’re all eligible.
