Update from Administrator – June 25, 2021
June 25, 2021
Dear Families,
As we continue to see diminishing COVID numbers in our state and region, we are excited to announce a new round of updated guidance from the state Department of Public Health that we have implemented at our center. This is another step in getting our center back to “normal” for visitors. Please bear with us as we are required to update some of our policies since COVID and may experience some bumps in the road we implement them.
As a reminder – if your loved one is not yet vaccinated, please contact at to Erin the Infection Preventionist at 860 583-1827 to schedule a vaccination. As you will see in the below new guidance, vaccinated individuals, both residents and their visitors, will see a significant reduction in previous COVID-19 restrictions / precautions. If your loved one has not been vaccinated yet, please continue to give it serious consideration. We will continue to advocate and encourage any staff who have not received their vaccination to do so ASAP. We will also continue to provide the opportunity and availability of the vaccine to unvaccinated staff and residents.
- Visitors are still required to complete our COVID-19 screening process, completing our screening questions for COVID-19 and confirm no exposure to others with COVID-19 infection during the prior 14 days prior to a visit.
- Visitors and residents, as they are able to do so, must wear a face mask for the duration of the visit except when the resident and visitor are fully vaccinated (14 days or more from receiving the final dose in the vaccine series).
- Some very exciting updates:
- Visitors do not need to be escorted to resident rooms.
- Visits do not need to be supervised.
- All previous limitations related to length of visit or number of visits no longer applies.
- Visits no longer need to be prearranged through the recreation department.
- There may be up to two visitors at a time in the resident’s room .
- Visits in room can occur regardless of vaccine status for resident or family.
- If a resident has a roommate who is unable to leave the room, the visit can still occur in the room following the core principles of infection prevention: hand hygiene, wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing from the roommate, and keeping privacy curtain closed.
- Residents and visitors who are fully vaccinated may visit without distancing and source control masks if alone in the resident’s room or alone in a designated area.
- Visits can now occur in common areas (e.g., lounges).
- Social distancing is still in effect for our visitors – please socially distance from our staff and others not-related to you, especially in common areas and during activities.
- Should a resident or staff member test positive, the unit, floor or care area will suspend visitation on that section until the unit, floor or care area has gone 14 days without a new COVID positive case. This guideline has not changed. Yet another reason for everyone to get vaccinated.
Outdoor Visitation Space:
- Residents who are fully vaccinated may visit with loved ones who are fully vaccinated without maintaining social distancing or wearing masks.
Dining and Group Activities:
- All residents except for those residents in isolation for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or in quarantine due to exposure or new admission status, regardless of vaccination status, can participate in the outdoor group activities;
- Participating residents must wear a mask if any of the participating residents are not fully vaccinated. Social distancing is no longer required.
- If all participating residents are fully vaccinated, then residents do not need to wear a mask.
- Small groups of residents who are fully vaccinated may dine together at a table without social distancing or wearing masks.
Some updates for you:
Visitation
- As mentioned earlier in this update, the CMS, CDC, and state continue to update their guidance for nursing homes – and we’ll keep you up to date on any changes. If you are unfamiliar with our protocols, please ask us.
- We always offer visitations using our technology (iPads, tablets, calls, etc.).
Recreation / Activities:
- On Wednesday July 14th we are holding our second outside picnic with entertainment for everyone’s enjoyment.
- We are delighted to hold small, socially distanced group activities.
- Outdoor activities are always encouraged and preferred by the CDC and CMS, however indoor events are once again taking place following the outbreak guidance.
- We are excited to safely welcome back in our volunteers and vendors including entertainment, clergy, artists, and instructors.
Dining:
- Following guidance from the CDC and CMS, we are serving meals in our dining rooms, allowing for additional opportunities for socialization among our residents.
- A reminder on bringing food to the center for your loved one. Please keep in mind any dietary restrictions for your loved one.
Vaccination Update
- As we have said before, although not mandatory, we continue to encourage any employee who has not been vaccinated to obtain one.
- Fully vaccinated staff are no longer required to be tested each week, unless an outbreak is detected, or the local county’s positivity number is very high.
- Unvaccinated staff are now tested once a month.
- Regional hospitals offer the first dose of a COVID vaccine to their patients being discharged to nursing homes.
Miscellaneous:
- Our barber and beauty salon is open for appointments
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, , until at least one round of facility-wide testing is completed.
All non-essential indoor compassionate visits will be affected as well, 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 today and Tuesday June 29, 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.
Just Released:
Once again, thank you for your time and understanding.
Please stay safe and healthy! We hope you have a great week and look forward to seeing you!!
Best,
Janet Shahen