Update from Administrator – March 15, 2021
March 15, 2021
Dear Families,
As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
Our current COVID status is that effective today we are once again COVID+ free. The two staff members have returned to work after their quarantine and the one resident is resolved.
As you well know, last week marked one year that every nursing home in our state was required to impose visitor restrictions to do our part to combat the COVID pandemic. We can’t express how much we appreciate your patience and understanding during this very long journey we have taken together.
Last week also commemorates a year since our team began their journey as “healthcare heroes” in the battle against COVID; doing their part to keep our residents as safe and healthy as possible, all while showing compassion and doing their best to meet not only their physical care, but their emotional needs as well. Please join me in thanking them and recognizing them again for what they did not only during the toughest parts of the pandemic, but what they do day in and day out.
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 and the third and final clinic was on 02/10/21.
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
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recognized the physical separation from family and other loved ones has taken a toll of residents and their families. CMS expanded indoor visitation in nursing homes, in response to significant reductions in COVID-19 infections and transmission resulting from ongoing infection control practices, and high vaccination rates in nursing home population. Visitation can be conducted through various means based on a facility’s structure and resident’s needs, including in resident rooms, visitation spaces and outdoors.
CMS and CDC continue to recommend facilities, residents, and families adhere to the core principles of COVID-19 infection, including physical distancing (maintaining at least 6 feet between people).They also acknowledge that there is no substitute for physical contact, such as a warm embrace between a resident and their loved one. Therefore, if the resident is fully vaccinated, they can choose to have close contact (including touch) with their visitor while wearing a well-fitting face mask and performing hand hygiene before and after. Regardless, visitors should physically distance from other residents and staff in the facility.
The vaccine will not provide immediate protection and we still need to see prevalence in the surrounding communities decline. Currently, community prevalence remains around 2%. 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) to 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.
– Visiting will be 30 minutes long.
– Please, no drinking or eating during visits.
– Come to the building with a 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 or in the resident’s room as long as there is not another resident residing in the 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.
– The total number of visitors in the facility at one time must be monitored.
Indoor Visits: 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.
Compassionate Care visits are allowed at all times.
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 March 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