Update from Administrator – November 20, 2020
November 20, 2020
Dear Families,
As you may have seen, more than 60% of Connecticut nursing homes now have at least one COVID-19 positive resident and/or employee case. Community spread of this insidious virus is affecting nearly every community in our immediate region and the state. We had one new resident test positive for COVID-19 Tuesday, with this new additional positive case, our current total of resident’s with COVID-19 is 4 . Three of the positive cases should be recovered as of Wednesday, November 25, 2020. The one staff member that tested positive should be back to work by Monday.
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. We still ask you to do your part while in your community and PLEASE wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. Please promote these very simple precautions with your extended family and friends.
Some updates
- With Thanksgiving upon us next week, and restrictions regarding large groups in the dining room, next week we will be having small groups each day to have a special meal.
Indoor Visits ( Currently on hold while we have positive cases)
As a reminder, our indoor visitation policy and procedures follow state and federal requirements. Based on that, nursing homes and visitors must adhere to many conditions that we listed in previous emails. Some are listed below:
- 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 is our recreation room.
- Screening for anyone who enters our center – temperature and health screen questionnaire – will take place by a member of our team.
- We cannot allow visitors to move freely throughout our center; visitors will go directly to the designated visitation area, recreation room.
- Hand hygiene must be followed, and personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn by visitors.
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 and approved compassionate care visits, 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 and we continue to make accommodations and work on new ways to continue this safe, in-person visitation.
And again, 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 difficult times.
As always, thank you for your patience and please stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Don Davanzo
Administrator