– Sad that she is trapped there – VG

– I’m angry, but I’m also very sorry. This is not how mom would end her days. You should have a dignified and enjoyable last time with the family. Then it ended up in one of the worst covid scenarios in Norway, says Grete Kvelstad (67) by phone to VG.

22 of the 23 residents and 20 employees of the Villa Skaar Valstad nursing home in Eidsvoll became infected with the coronavirus in a short time in early November.

Kvelstad’s 88-year-old mother, Mary Kvelstad, is one of those who fell ill.

She was transferred from Villa Skaar Bøn to Villa Skaar Valstad just before the second wave fully reached the nursing home.

Within a week, six of her roommates died in the nursing home.

– I didn’t think this would happen. I thought they had all the possible action in the world in places like that. Suddenly, case after case appeared, says Kvelstad.

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Respond to employee turnover

Kvelstad cares about praising the employees who work in the nursing home and take care of their mother. At the same time, he criticizes the fact that the administration has allowed employees to work in various nursing homes in the municipality during an ongoing pandemic.

On Wednesday it became known that an outbreak of infection in a municipal residence in the municipality may be linked to an employee who has worked both there and in Villa Skaar Valstad at the same time.

The outbreak at Vilberg Health Park in Eidsvoll is also related to an employee who is also said to have worked at Villa Skaar Valberg.

– The fact that employees work in several places next door, makes me more angry. It is simply unacceptable, Kvelstad believes.

Sister Jorid Østnor (62) has been behind him for many years as a health service employee.

She understands that additional help is often depended on, but wonders if this practice should be reinforced as is the current situation.

– During the crown period, one would think that the nursing home was a bit more careful. It is very unfortunate. It probably should have been a bit more strict during the pandemic. Employees should only be where they are employed, Østnor tells VG.

Questions without answer

Kvelstad has not seen his mother since March. Østnor last saw her in October. Both are happy that the mother, who is insane, does not have the capacity to assimilate the seriousness of the situation.

However, they think the situation is difficult, especially since the mother is isolated from all contact with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

– First of all I’m afraid of mom. I think it’s sad that I’m trapped there. The only thing that calms me down is that she receives good care and is a strong lady, says Kvelstad, adding:

– And those who work on the ground at Villa Skaar Valstad do a formidable job.

Østnor says the ward nurse calls daily and keeps her informed about her mother. She feels cared for and happy with good medical supervision and regular email updates.

However, there are some questions that remain unanswered.

– I have to get to the bottom of how this happened. This is not going to happen. They should have been stricter who has been where and should have tasted better ahead of time, Kvelstad believes.

– It is clear that it feels a bit silly that I, who am healthy and have isolated myself for a long time, have not been allowed in, but then it turns out that employees who work in various places are allowed to enter, he points out.

The sisters say they are looking forward to the next few weeks after more and more residents of the nursing home have lost their battle against the virus.

– You get very anxious. Mom is older, and then you can’t stand to get really bad. Knowing that and at the same time not being able to visit her, it’s horrible. Everything is sad, says Østnor.

The nursing home: – Unfortunately, very common.

Villa Skaar Managing Director Richard Skaar Thorsrud writes in an email to VG that the nursing home did not use employees who have their primary employer in the township or elsewhere.

– We have heard that one of our employees, who tested positive, was used by the municipality as an additional guard in two municipal homes. We are the primary employer of this person. This happened before the infection was known. These are, therefore, conditions for which the municipality must respond, writes Thorsrud.

Additionally, he notes that Villa Skaar has written routines that require employees to indicate other employers when hiring. However, you think this situation is nothing unusual:

– Unfortunately, it is very common for employees of nursing homes in Norway to take shifts at various locations. This is not a special phenomenon for us. During the corona pandemic, Villa Skaar has encouraged its own employees to work in one place.

It ensures that the nursing home does not use additional substitutes now that the infection has been proven.

Ask for clear guidelines

The CEO of Villa Skaar is now calling for clear and unambiguous guidelines from a central level that all nursing homes must adhere to.

So far, there are only recommendations in this area.

The National Institute of Public Health writes, among other things, on its website that they recommend that nursing home employees have as few workplaces as possible to reduce the risk of infection between them.

Furthermore, they emphasize that staff turnover should be avoided.

The Norwegian Health Directorate also notes that employees working in multiple nursing homes carry an increased risk of spreading the infection from one nursing home to another and should therefore be avoided.

Eidsvoll Township Chief Medical Officer Carl Magnus Jensen said Wednesday to VG that it is not desirable, but also not prohibited, for nursing home employees to have multiple employers.

– It is clear that it is not fortunate that employees have more jobs, but in some cases it is necessary due to skills needs. Where possible and justifiably, we want employees to relate to a department, Jensen explained by phone to VG.