Family fighting for answers about mother’s condition at nursing home after COVID-19 positive test

UNIONTOWN, Pa. — A family tells Channel 11 they are fed up after learning their mother tested positive for COVID-19 inside a local nursing home.

>>>RELATED: 2 women who have COVID-19 claim local nursing home they work at is overrun by virus

We showed you Monday night the stories of two women who claimed Bella Healthcare Center in Fayette County was overrun by the coronavirus. Now, family members say they’re having to fight for updates on their mother’s condition.

“It’s not the same. It’s really hard,” said Tammy Matthews.

Matthews and the rest of her family wish they could go back because all they have are memories of what life was like before they had to put their mother into a nursing home.

“I have not got to hug my mom since February. We got to have an outside visit in June,” Matthews said.

Since her mother’s diagnosis of COVID-19, she said she feels like she’s been left in the dark.

“I had left about seven messages in the last two and a half weeks. I should’ve gotten a phone call everyday telling me how my mom is doing, being that she has COVID-19 and I couldn’t even get a phone call back,” Matthews said.

Both Bella Healthcare Center employees and residents have tested positive for coronavirus. When asked, the facility wouldn’t confirm how many positive cases they have to Channel 11.

“Sick to my stomach and worried to death, not only for my mother, but for the other residents and for the workers, because the workers, they’re people just like me.”

A company spokesperson sent Channel 11 a statement:

“We have significantly increased testing of all residents, and as we unfortunately learned, a number of residents tested positive. There’s a new PPE regiment and the company has purchased thousands of gowns, masks and gloves since taking over three weeks ago. Bella is supporting the community and need of local hospitals by taking active COVID-19 admissions. All new residents are quarantined for 14 days.”

Rate of children going to emergency room dropping due to COVID-19 pandemic

Cox Media Group