Coronavirus in Nursing Homes Dead In 24 Hours

On Thursday, March 12, Kenneth Green complained to his brother about some pain in his back.

The 85-year-old had dementia and lived on a special floor at Plantation Manor Nursing Home in McCalla, Alabama but enjoyed good physical health and frequent visits from family. He still recognized his grandkids and great-grandchildren, laughing and joking with them during a visit in early March.

His health took a sharp turn on Monday. That morning, he choked on his juice, said his granddaughter, Dena Marshall. The nursing home said he appeared to be struggling to breathe. That afternoon, they transferred him to the hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU.

Marshall said by then he had pneumonia and kidney failure. Marshall worked as a nurse in the hospital where he was admitted. She donned a mask and gown for protection and held Green’s hand as he died on Tuesday.

It took several days for a COVID-19 test to come back positive. Green may be one of the earliest people in Alabama to die after contracting COVID-19, which has now taken the lives of 16 people living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Due to privacy concerns, it’s difficult to verify cases of coronavirus, and Plantation Manor did not respond to requests for comment.

For Green, the end came quickly. Marshall said the home should have seen it coming.

“You don’t get double pneumonia and kidney failure in 24 hours,” Marshall said. “Why didn’t they contact the family when he started having breathing problems earlier in the day?”