Update from Administrator – May 12, 2020
As always, our team and I hope this finds you safe and healthy.
Since this week is National Nurses Week, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Nurses my sincerest wishes and thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and compassion for all of our residents here at Sheriden Woods. We remain incredibly grateful for our entire dedicated team and ask you to join me in ensuring that they are included as “Health Care Heroes” battling COVID-19. They are doing everything they possibly can to care for those suffering and support them as they battle this disease.
And a Happy Mother’s Day to our residents, staff and every mother within our “Family.” To celebrate Mother’s Day all ladies received a 1:1 visit with recreation: refreshments, hand crafted Mother’s Day card, gift which included a sweet treat and a heart shaped locket necklace. Many residents also had window visits and skype calls with their loved ones.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) has approved the use of Civil Money Penalty(CMP) Reinvestment Fund to purchase of adaptive communication technology for CT nursing homes during this COVID-19 pandemic in the order to promote communication between residents and their families/responsible parties and friends. On Saturday I picked up five (5) iPads for Sheriden Woods. We are working with the IT department to get them set up. If you are interested in setting up an alternative visit, please contact the receptionist at 860.583.1827 who will be happy to assist you.
Our commitment is to be as transparent as possible and work to address any issues that arise. This is an incredibly challenging time and we will continue to do all we can to get through this, together.
We also continue to do all we can to protect our other residents and remain committed to ensuring the personal protective equipment (PPE) our staff needs and are in compliance with CDC and state guidelines regarding the appropriate use of PPE. We continue to follow every lead to secure PPE from existing and new vendors and request equipment from the state. On Wednesday each week we pick our allotment of PPE that is distributed by the CT DPH and the National Guard.
We are in touch daily with the Department of Public Health and our local Health Department. On Thursday May 7, 2020 Sheriden Woods had a visit CT DPH and National Guard, I am proud to say that our center was found to be in compliance; areas reviewed included PPE, staffing and infection control and prevention issues. We continue to follow all CDC and state guidelines and receive regular updates on new guidelines that are offered.
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
Lizbeth Carmichael
Administrator