ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Families of loved ones in local long-term care facilities experiencing cases of COVID-19 say they’re finding it difficult to get information about how those residents are doing. 

And they say not being able to visit their loved ones makes it even more difficult. 

Cassie Sonnefeldt says she hasn’t seen her grandmother since before the pandemic started.

“I feel like I’m helpless,” Sonnefeldt said.

Sonnefeldt’s grandmother, Wanda, is a resident at Ocoee Health Care Center, where Florida Department of Health in Orange County reported there is an outbreak of COVID-19.  Health officials said nearly 100 staff and residents have tested positive, and at least four residents have died.

Sonnefeldt said it’s been very difficult for her family to get any information about how her grandmother is doing.

“We can’t see them right now so let us know what is going on and how our family is doing,” Sonnefeldt said.

Care facilities continue to be coronavirus hot spots.  On Monday, August 3, Orange County Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino reported more positive cases among staff and residents at three Orange County facilities.

Sonnefeldt said her family still doesn’t even know for sure if her grandmother is negative for COVID-19. 

They have tried to move her out of the nursing home, but Sonnefeldt said other facilities won’t take her.

“It’s just so hard with our incomes and with COVID going on,” Sonnefeldt said. “No one’s taking new patients.”

Peggy Hoyt is an attorney with The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan, who works with Senior Resource Alliance.  She said before putting a loved one in a facility, families need to make sure a family member is legally given healthcare power of attorney over the resident.

“The facility doesn’t really have the authority to release medical information to just anybody who happens to call up,” Hoyt said.

For families now struggling for information, Hoyt recommends to keep calling for updates.  She also said it’s important to at least try to do video calls with a loved one to observe as much as possible.

“So you can see their facial expressions, you can see their demeanor, you can see and ask them how they’re feeling and how they’re being cared for — if they can communicate that information,” Hoyt said.

“We would very much appreciate better care and more communication,” Sonnefeldt said. “We want to know what’s going on with our loved ones — I feel like we have a right to know.” 

Coronavirus Cases at Orange County Long-Term Care Facilities*

Rio Pinar

• New Positive staff since last report: 6
• Total positive staff: 42
• Number total staff: 195
• Number hospitalized staff due to COVID-19: 0
• Number staff deaths due to COVID-19: 0
• New Positive residents since last report: 17
• Total positive residents: 35
• Total resident census: 165
• Number hospitalized residents due to COVID-19: 12
• Number resident deaths due to COVID-19: 2

Orlando Health and Rehab

• New Positive staff since last report: 32
• Total positive staff: 88
• Number total staff: 438
• Number hospitalized staff due to COVID-19: 1
• Number staff deaths due to COVID-19: 0
• New Positive residents since last report: 11
• Total positive residents: 95
• Total resident census: 322
• Number hospitalized residents due to COVID-19: 1
• Number resident deaths due to COVID-19: 1 

Colonial Lakes

• New Positive staff since last report: 8
• Total positive staff: 35 
• Total staff Census: 170
• Number hospitalized staff due to COVID-19: 0
• Number staff deaths due to COVID-19: 0
•  New Positive residents since last report: 3
• Total positive residents: 39 
• Total resident census: 131
• Number hospitalized residents due to COVID-19: 11
• Number resident deaths due to COVID-19: 8

*Data provided by Florida Department of Health — Orange County