Update from Administrator – November 23, 2020
November 23, 2020
Dear Families,
We hope this email find you safe and healthy.
As you may have seen, more than 60% of Connecticut nursing homes now have at least one COVID-19 positive resident and/or employee. Community spread of this insidious virus is affecting nearly every community in our immediate region and the state.
Sadly, many of our residents and staff members are affected by this virus. Our positive residents are quarantined in a separate unit, while three of our residents have since been recovered.
We continue to test our staff weekly required by DPH. We are reminding our staff not only to 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. And please promote these very simple precautions with your extended family and friends.
Some updates
• With Thanksgiving upon us this week, below are a few of the activities we have planned, as well as our menu:
o Harvest Treat Cart, Thanksgiving Trivia and Games
o Our Thanksgiving menu is:
– Apple Cider-
-Roast turkey / Ham-
– Stuffing – Dinner rolls-
– Fresh baked Yam-
-French cut green beans-
-Pumpkin Pie – Apple Pie-
• We now have ample tablets assigned for our residents to use for virtual visits, games, tele-health visits, news updates, etc. Many of our residents are enjoying and learning how to use this technology and having the world at their fingertips.
Indoor Visit:
All indoor visits are on hold except end of life care visits and approved compassionate care visits.
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.
• 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.
• Hand hygiene must be followed, and personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn by visitor.
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.
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.
Our “Town Hall” call is scheduled for Tuesday 11/24/20 at 3:00pm.
As always, thank you for your patience and please stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
Sobha Lamontagne,MHA,LNA
Administrator