Update from Administrator – October 30, 2020

Update from Administrator – October 30, 2020

October 30, 2020

Dear Families,

As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.

We continue testing our staff and residents at regular intervals as required by CMS, CDC and DPH. We are happy to report that we remain COVID free!

As you may have seen in the news lately, Connecticut, as well as other states across the country is experiencing an uptick in positive COVID cases throughout many communities. With that in mind, CT DPH has ordered weekly testing of all staff to further safeguard against COVID entering our center. We are reminding our staff to not only practice safeguards against COVID in our center, but to be vigilant outside of our center and share these practices with their friends and loved ones.

“COVID Fatigue” is the new thing we hear about on the news: people are tired of wearing their mask and being vigilant in their hand washing and social distancing. This is leading to an uptick in COVID cases. These are simple things we must continue to do, not just in our centers, but in our personal lives to keep COVID out!

 

PLEASE wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance.

 

Some updates

  • FLU VACCINE: We STRONGLY encourage that all staff and residents receive an annual Influenza Vaccine. We have received our shipment of vaccine; please consider completing a consent form to ensure your loved one receives their vaccine if you have not done so already. Our goal is 100% participation of staff and residents.
  • The Department of Public Health (DPH) also announced that they are resuming routine surveys. As always, we will continue to communicate to you when a state or federal agency has conducted a survey here.
  • Food is now allowed to be dropped off by families for their loved one’s enjoyment and take out delivery has also been authorized. Please coordinate delivery with us.
  • Our Beauty Salon is open for salon services, following strict guidelines. If you would like to make an appointment for yourself or your loved one, please call the front desk receptionist. Monies may be dropped off to the front desk or an account may be opened through the finance department.
  • Each nursing unit has tablets assigned for resident use such as virtual visits, games, etc.  and many of our residents are enjoying learning how to use this technology and having the world at their fingertips.
  • Our outdoor social distancing activities programming continues to expand and evolve.
  • Every weekday, I and my administrative team round a different nursing unit and meet with our residents to let them know we’re here for them and give them an opportunity to voice any questions or concerns they may have directly to us. We also use this time during rounds to assess our residents, our environment, and ask our residents specific questions such as satisfaction with meals, preferences, activities being provided, interaction and response from staff, proper operation of all equipment in room and more!

Indoor Visits

We had implemented our indoor visitation policy and procedures following state and federal requirements. However, due to an indirect exposure, we had to halt the indoor visits until the 14-day period had elapsed.  This time frame will conclude on November 3rd.  We will be able to resume indoor visits (should they not be rescinded by DPH, CDC, CMS) the following day providing nursing homes and visitors adhere to the following conditions:

  • We must limit the number of visitors per patient at one time and limit the total number of visitors in the center at a time. This will be based on the amount of physical space we have available for our designated visitation area, which will be in our first-floor dining room.
  • We need to limit the duration of visits to help ensure all patients can receive visitors. Just like our outdoor visits, once we have more experience behind us, we can adjust this, if necessary. Current visits will be scheduled on the hour and will be scheduled for 45 minutes; this will allow us 15 minutes to clean and prepare the area for the next visit.
  • Cleaning and disinfecting of the designated visitation area will occur by our staff in between visits. This is another factor affecting the amount of time and numbers of visitors we can have in our center.
  • Screening for anyone who enters our center – temperature and health screen questionnaire – will take place by our center staff.  Please stop at the front desk to be screened and secure your PPE to enter the area.
  • We cannot allow visitors to move freely throughout our center; visitors will go directly to the designated visitation area, which is the first-floor dining room.
  • Hand hygiene must be followed and personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn by visitors.
  • Social distancing requirements remain as they do for our outside visits.
  • We offer indoor and outdoor supervised social distancing visits 7 days a week.
  • Please do not give any tangible item to your loved one.  All items must be given directly to the Receptionist upon entering.  Cigarettes and any smoking paraphernalia must be given to the Receptionist for proper storage, please do not give them to the resident.  This includes smokeless cartridges or Vapes.  These are not allowed in any healthcare setting.

 

 

 

Indoor, End Stage of Life Care Visits

Should a new case of COVID be identified in the center, all inside visits, except end stage of life, will be temporarily put on hold.

Outside & “Alternative” Visits

Please know that outside and “alternative” visitations will continue. While the weather is changing, we will work to continue to do outside visits on our patio for as long as possible and window visits are still possible. The weather seems to be holding steady for now.

Remember that we do offer iPads for our residents to use for video visits, phone calls, etc. to ensure that you and your loved ones remain in contact, as best as you can during these very uncertain times.

As always, thank you for your patience and please stay safe and healthy!

October 30, 2020 A Healthier Approach To Caring