Update From Administrator – September 18, 2020
September 18, 2020
Dear Families,
As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
We continue testing our staff and residents at regular intervals as required by CMS, CDC and DPH. We are happy to report that we remain COVID free! We continue testing our staff and residents at regular intervals as required by CMS, CDC and RIDOH.
A few quick points:
- I want to reiterate that this pandemic is still active and while we remain COVID-free, our state continues to report new cases of COVID. As we see in the news, some states continue to surge with new cases. This serves as a reminder that we must all remain vigilant in following all guidelines, recommendations, and best practices to stay safe and fight this pandemic.
- Although we are following social distance guidelines, handwashing protocols, hygiene recommendations, and wearing masks in our center – it is still STRONGLY encouraged that all staff and residents receive an annual Influenza Vaccine. While the vaccine is not in the center yet, please consider completing a consent form, in advance to ensure you loved one receives their vaccine.
- Food is allowed to be dropped off by families for their loved one’s enjoyment and take out delivery has also been authorized. Our receptionist will meet the individual delivering the food at the front entrance and will have it delivered to the resident by our staff.
- Our Beauty Salon is open for all salon services under strict guidelines to unsure safety. One resident is allowed in the room at a time. Residents needing a permanent do take longer so to enable more residents to get beautification, we have a second location for our resident while the solution sets the curls.
- Each nursing unit has Samsung tablets assigned for resident use such as virtual visits, games, telemedicine visits, etc. Now our residents are learning how to use this technology and can have the world at their fingertips.
- We continue to offer indoor supervised social distancing visits – Please continue to schedule appointments with our receptionist for indoor and outdoor visits.
- Every weekday, I and my administrative team round a different nursing unit and meet with our residents to let them know we’re here for them. We 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!
- Our management team teamed up with the activities department bringing new and interesting activities to our residents. This week our residents participated in an English tea party. A tea pot of flavored tea was sipped by our residents Tuesday as Pam discussed the history of high tea. All participants wore a lovely straw hat as they tasted scones and cream cheese sandwiches. Janessa and Aubrey shared their creative spirit with our residents who painted wine bottles to make the latest Pinterest creation in time for fall. Thursday the entire facility had a special visit from Gizmo the beautiful black Shitzo owned by our ICP Heather. Dina our 4th floor social worker had residents making beaded bracelets Friday.
- As you may have heard on the news, nursing homes will begin receiving “Rapid” COVID testing machines from the federal government over the coming weeks. As soon as we receive the machines, have conducted training on them, and have the necessary supplies to conduct the tests – we look forward to putting them to use! More information will follow on this as it becomes available.
- We have received the “Point of Care Testing Device” from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that is designed to enable us to conduct COVID-19 Antigen testing within our center, providing rapid results. We are working on getting our clinicians certified in the use of this device and will communicate with you once we begin using it.
- And we saved the best news saved for last…Our dining services are back up in the dining rooms. This week we brought the steam tables up to the 2nd and 3rd floors. Residents are able to eat in the main dining room again. The restrictions limit us to only two residents to a table but we offer the room on a rotating basis to residents so everyone gets time in the company of another resident. Our food is served directly from the steam table to the tables and the residents in their rooms. This insures it retains the heat and great smell of the meal helps stir everyone’s appetite.
Thank you, and please stay safe and healthy!
Susan LaNinfa