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Woman says restrictions due to COVID-19 outbreak at nursing home causing her added stress

Posted at 6:11 PM, Mar 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-11 18:27:52-04

GREENWOOD — A woman who is currently in living in a Greenwood rehabilitation center says the restrictions due to the COVID-19 outbreak could actually be impacting her overall health.

Jennifer Helms says she might miss her doctors appointments at University Heights & Living Community because of the current rules they have in place.

"They scratched out the appointments I had written on paper," Helms said. "They said I could go see my surgeon and my infectious disease doctor."

Helms says she has waited months to get appointments with doctors she really needs to see.

In February, Helms had surgery and has been at the center since. She is supposed to stay through March, but says the restrictions at the center due to COVID-19 are causing her added stress.

"They let me go to church last Sunday and now I can't even go to church," Helms said.

The women she has met at her church have helped her go through her illness, Helm says.

Tammy Tucker says she found out about the new restrictions mandated by Medicare and Medicaid services the hard way.

"The lady opened the door but then she shut the door on me," Tucker said.

When Tucker went to see Helms, her friend, Tucker says she could only talk to a facility employee through a window.

As of now, all family members of hospice residents are being screened before they are allowed to visit.

Senior living communities throughout Central Indiana have restrictions in place to help protect residents.