Update from Administrator – February 15, 2021
February 15, 2021
Dear Families,
As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
Vaccine Update
As you know by now, our staff and residents have completed two COVID-19 vaccination clinics on 12/30/2020 and on 1/20/2021 , with the majority of our eligible staff and residents now having received at least one dose.
The vaccine was delivered and administered by pharmacists from CVS. The third and final clinic is scheduled to be administered on 02/10/21 to residents and staff who either are receiving their second and final dose or to those individuals who are receiving their first dose.
If your loved one is receiving their first dose at this clinic, we will work with you and them to schedule their second dose outside of our center, once the Federal Pharmacy Partners Program concludes. The Department of Public Health is actively working on developing further guidance which will include recommended options and strategies for vaccination.
With most nursing home residents having already received their first, and in many cases, second doses of the vaccine, the state has already reported a significant decrease in nursing home cases of COVID among residents and staff, further proof that the vaccine works and we’re doing our part to eliminate COVID!
While the vaccination plan in our state is well underway, we continue to take all necessary precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing, to ensure the safety of our residents and staff.
Visitation
We continue to receive many questions on whether in-center visitation can resume once vaccination of the center is complete. The vaccine will not provide immediate protection and we still need to see prevalence in the surrounding communities decline. Currently, community prevalence remains high. Therefore, we need to continue with the same visitation and infection control practices put in place and enhanced throughout this pandemic. We will also continue to follow the guidance and recommendations of our public health officials (CDC, CMS, DPH) too determine how and when to adjust our policies for visitations and social activities and keep you updated.
Remember we always offer visitations using technology (IPads, tablets, calls, etc.) and when we can, window visits and outside visits.
Visitation Reminders:
We want to provide some reminders about our visitation policy, based on requirements set by our state’s DPH and the federal CMS and CDC. We do apologize, but the below is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for visits, under the strict state and federal guidelines we must adhere to. We know this is not the optimal way to visit your loved one, but we these guidelines have been put in place with your loved ones and out staff’s best interest in mind.
– Residents may have up to 2 visitors at a time, and two visits per week per resident.
– Visiting will be 30 minutes long.
– Please, no drinking or eating during visits.
– Come to the building with mask on that covers your nose and mouth.
– When you arrive, please sanitize hands, fill out COVID exposure questionnaire and sign the one-time document acknowledging that you will follow the visiting guidelines.
– The receptionist will take your temperature.
– Visits are held in the Crestview Dining Room.
– All visitors and residents must wear a facemask that fully covers your nose and mouth, and it must remain in place throughout the entire visit; you must perform hand hygiene prior to approaching the visit area.
– Please maintain social distancing during the visit.
– A staff member will be on hand to answer questions, assist during the visit, and sanitize in between visits.
Indoor Visits: we are open for indoor visits beginning today Monday February 15, 2021. Please be sure to contact the recreation department for an appointment.
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.
All non-essential indoor compassionate visits are on hold, for anyone who is not true immediate end of life, or if the resident has undergone a significant change of conditions.
Some updates
- Food can be dropped off by families for their loved one’s enjoyment and take out delivery has also been authorized. Please coordinate delivery with us.
- 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.
- Every weekday, I and my administrative team round on 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.
As a reminder, our next “Town Hall” meeting is scheduled for Tuesday February 16, 2021 at 4:00pm and we will discuss more detailed information during this time. We encourage any residents and family members to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have about the care we are offering. Our commitment is to be as transparent as possible and work to address any issues that arise.
Once again, thank you for your time and understanding.
Please stay safe and healthy!
Janet Shahen
Administrator