Lack of Transmission Tracking Means Fragile Population is Overlooked
Nationwide, over 300,000 people with intellectual disabilities and/or developmental delays live in congregate settings such as residential care facilities or group homes. One recent study revealed that for people living with comorbid conditions, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities were at the highest risk of death from coronavirus. It is generally thought that a greater prevalence of preexisting conditions is the main reason COVID can be so deadly for people in this population. However, other factors play into this high rate as well. For instance, the inability to understand the dangers of the virus or the need for up close assistance in order to eat or dress may also contribute to poor COVID outcomes for this group. Even though this cohort is very vulnerable to coronavirus, the government has not tracked transmission rates for those with disabilities living in congregate settings. This hasn’t set well with many special needs advocates who feel that this fragile group has been vastly overlooked amid the pandemic. An advocacy group called the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities has repeatedly requested that federal agencies hold facilities which provide residential care for those with disabilities to the same pandemic regulations that nursing homes follow. Nursing homes must report COVID cases directly to national agencies. The requests from this organization have gone unanswered. The Arc of the United States is also concerned, pointing out that without case reporting, the full impact of the virus on residential care facilities becomes unclear. Arc feels that congregate settings for those with disabilities should be viewed as just as dangerous as nursing homes. Requests from these advocacy groups are incredibly important and should not be ignored. Sufficient tracking and surveillance of coronavirus in residential care settings is critical for better treatment, management and prevention of the virus. Ultimately, these measures should save numerous lives.
