Sonoma County Senior Homes Battle Coronavirus Cases

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Residents and staff members at one Healdsburg assisted living facility are currently battling coronavirus, according to statistics from the California Department of Social Services.

At least 16 care facilities were experiencing outbreaks of the virus in Sonoma County, Wednesday data revealed. A total of 234 staff and 228 residents of care facilities had tested positive for coronavirus.

The largest outbreaks, according to state data, was were recorded at Primrose Altzheimer's Living Inc, Sunrise of Petaluma and Muirwoods Memory Care.

Primrose Altzheimer's Living Inc, in Santa Rosa, reported 23 cases among staff, 36 cases among residents and an unspecified amount of fatalities among residents.

The state Department of Social Services does not provide exact case count and death totals in facilities with fewer than 11 cases to report, in the interest of protecting patient privacy.

Sunrise of Petaluma reported 28 active cases among staff members, 25 cases among residents and less than 11 deaths related to the virus. At Petaluma's Muirwoods Memory Care, 29 residents were infected and less than 11 staff members were infected. An unspecified amount of residents also died of coronavirus at this facility.

At Healdsburg Senior Living Community, data did not reveal how many cases of coronavirus were active among residents and staff.

The senior community reported that some residents had died of the virus but that number was not released either.

Sunrise Villa, in Santa Rosa, reported 11 cases among staff but none among residents and zero fatalities. Santa Rosa's St. Francis Assisted Living reported 20 infections among residents and an unspecified amount of staff cases and resident fatalities. Spring Lake Village in Santa Rosa reported 15 staff cases, less than 11 resident infections and zero deaths.

Sonoma's Sunrise Villa location reported 11 cases among staff but zero cases among residents and zero deaths related to the virus.

Brookdale Windsor reported 16 infections among staff and 15 cases among residents with less than 11 deaths reported.

Mirabel Lodge in Forestville reported 12 cases among staff, 14 among residents and less than 11 deaths.

Nazareth Agua Caliente Villa reported 15 cases among staff, 21 cases among residents and less than 11 deaths.

Hanna House Ridley reported 23 cases among residents, less than 11 cases among staff and an unspecified amount of residents who died of coronavirus.

Other facilities listed by the state that had fewer than 11 coronavirus infections were Fountaingrove Lodge and Oakmont Gardens.

The challenge of preventing coronavirus is especially great at assisted living facilities with memory care units. Residents in these units may not always understand the need to socially distance and wear a mask, though seeing others in masks can serve as a helpful reminder to those struggling with dementia, according to Teri Tift of Eskaton which operates care facilities in the East Bay. Tift is a registered nurse and holds a doctorate in health administration.

Facilities are continuing to work with county public health workers to carry out COVID-19 testing protocols, deliver meals to residents, and ensure people are isolating when necessary.

The coronavirus "is affecting millions of people, and it is very difficult and hard on families, and residents and staff," Tift said. "I'll be so glad when we have the vaccine going to everybody."

— Written by Patch editors Kat Schuster and Courtney Teague