Page 118 - Petelin, Ana. 2021. Ed. Zdravje starostnikov / Health of the Elderly. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press.
P. 118
avje starostnikov | health of the elderly 116 supposed to work in the grey zone, but it all got mixed up because there was a
staff shortage” (S4).
The staff’s mental and physical exhaustion was also reported to a large ex-
tent during both waves: “Exhaustion, depression” (S7).
The availability and quality of PPE
Differences between the results for the first and second waves mean that this set
of data is divided into two parts.
First wave: In contrast to mass media reports, students generally reported
a sufficient level of PPE: “Basically, we were not missing anything” (S1).
Still, some students also reported a lack of PPE and the dangerous conse-
quences of reusing it. If PPE items are stored for later reuse, undisinfected areas
pose a risk when staff collect the PPE again. There is also a greater risk of con-
tamination when clothing is reworn.
I think the biggest problem was PPE. We had it, but we were a little
more frugal. We saved these coats when we went to lunch. We took
them off, didn’t throw them away, and then we put them back on
again, and there was a risk of becoming infected. (S5)
In some nursing homes, the staff did not have Tyvek (i.e. a disposable,
highly protective coat) to use for their protection, even while working in the
red zone.
Q: So, you were working in the red zone, and you didn’t have a Tyvek?
A: No, no. We had that blue coat, with a rubber band on the sleeves.
I know they already had those ‘space suits’ at the end, but in testing
they found out that they were leaky, so we didn’t use them, they said
it didn’t make sense. (S2)
Second wave: Students had varied experiences regarding the availabili-
ty of PPE and its quality. Mostly sufficient quantities were reported, but poorer
quality. This could pose a risk of infection transmission to both staff and resi-
dents. PPE that tears and is made of poor material can create a bigger transmis-
sion risk because staff are wearing deficient protection. Awareness of the equip-
ment’s weaknesses also affects the mental state of the staff because they do not
feel safe at work.
Umm, the material was there, but it was bad. The gloves I swear,
every other one did... I said... This will be filmed now, but if condoms
were like this, population growth would be 100%. They were old, it
was a batch of bad gloves, just porous. And we used washable coats.
Washable coats!!! (S9).
staff shortage” (S4).
The staff’s mental and physical exhaustion was also reported to a large ex-
tent during both waves: “Exhaustion, depression” (S7).
The availability and quality of PPE
Differences between the results for the first and second waves mean that this set
of data is divided into two parts.
First wave: In contrast to mass media reports, students generally reported
a sufficient level of PPE: “Basically, we were not missing anything” (S1).
Still, some students also reported a lack of PPE and the dangerous conse-
quences of reusing it. If PPE items are stored for later reuse, undisinfected areas
pose a risk when staff collect the PPE again. There is also a greater risk of con-
tamination when clothing is reworn.
I think the biggest problem was PPE. We had it, but we were a little
more frugal. We saved these coats when we went to lunch. We took
them off, didn’t throw them away, and then we put them back on
again, and there was a risk of becoming infected. (S5)
In some nursing homes, the staff did not have Tyvek (i.e. a disposable,
highly protective coat) to use for their protection, even while working in the
red zone.
Q: So, you were working in the red zone, and you didn’t have a Tyvek?
A: No, no. We had that blue coat, with a rubber band on the sleeves.
I know they already had those ‘space suits’ at the end, but in testing
they found out that they were leaky, so we didn’t use them, they said
it didn’t make sense. (S2)
Second wave: Students had varied experiences regarding the availabili-
ty of PPE and its quality. Mostly sufficient quantities were reported, but poorer
quality. This could pose a risk of infection transmission to both staff and resi-
dents. PPE that tears and is made of poor material can create a bigger transmis-
sion risk because staff are wearing deficient protection. Awareness of the equip-
ment’s weaknesses also affects the mental state of the staff because they do not
feel safe at work.
Umm, the material was there, but it was bad. The gloves I swear,
every other one did... I said... This will be filmed now, but if condoms
were like this, population growth would be 100%. They were old, it
was a batch of bad gloves, just porous. And we used washable coats.
Washable coats!!! (S9).
