Update from Administrator – October 15, 2020
October 15, 2020
Dear Families,
As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
We will continue testing our staff and reporting at regular intervals as required by CMS, CDC and DPH. Resident testing is determined by the outcome of our employee tests.
Currently for the second floor, we must test all residents a second time as the questionable employee was deemed positive on their second testing. Visitation is restricted at the moment for all of 2nd floor until we get clearance from the RI DOH. Second floor is restricted entirely for now.
We are unable to do inside visitation for 2nd and 3rd floor residents until the situation is cleared. Window visitation is allowed for the 3rd floor residents only.
Fourth floor is our isolation floor so regardless of the situation for the 2nd and 3rd floor residents, we can not allow 4th floor residents indoor or window visits. Virtual visits are best for the 14 day period.
Although we are following social distance guidelines, handwashing protocols, hygiene recommendations, and wearing masks in our center – are still STRONGLY enforced. We STRONGLY encourage that all staff and residents receive an annual Influenza Vaccine. We have received our shipment of vaccine, please consider completing a consent form to ensure your loved one receives their vaccine. We will continue to administer flu vaccines with a goal of 100% participation of staff and residents.
I want to reiterate that this pandemic is still active and while our state continues to report new cases of COVID and as we see in the news. As our Governor indicated states continue to surge with new cases and she is concerned since Rhode Island is seeing an increase in new cases, hospitalizations and deaths. 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.
Some updates
- The Department of Health also announced that are resuming routine surveys. As always, we will continue to communicate to you when a state or federal agency has conducted a survey here.
- Food is now allowed to be dropped off by families for their loved one’s enjoyment and take out delivery is acceptable. Please coordinate delivery with us. Do not hand items to our residents while visiting.
- 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.
- Our outdoor social distancing activities programming continues if residents want to go outside.
- 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 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!
Indoor Visits
When we can resume our indoor visitation policy and procedures following to state and federal requirements our residents and visitors must adhere to the following conditions:
- We must limit the number of visitors per patient at one time to only 2 and limit the total number of visitations taking place in the center to 2 residents. This will be based on the amount of physical space we have available for our designated visitation area, which is our lobby.
- We need to limit the duration of visits to help ensure all patients can receive visitors. Just like our outdoor visits, the time frame is about ½ hour hour.
- Cleaning and disinfecting of the designated visitation area will occur by our staff in between visits. This is another factor affecting the amount of time and numbers of visitors we can have in our center.
- Screening for anyone who enters our center – temperature and health screen questionnaire – will take place. Please do not attempt to visit if you were exposed to someone with Covid.
- We cannot allow visitors to move freely throughout our center; visitors will go directly to the designated visitation area as directed by the screener.
- Hand sanitizer must be used for hand hygiene and personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn by visitors.
- Social distancing requirements remain as they do for our outside visits. Please do not hug, kiss or move chairs closer than the designated 6 ft marks.
- We offer indoor and outdoor supervised social distancing visits weekly.
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.
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 for as long as possible and window visits are still possible. We purchased and are testing small weather protection tents to help protect everyone from less than perfect weather conditions. The weather seems to be holding steady for now.
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 uncertain times.
As always, thank you for your patience and please stay safe and healthy! If you have any questions, feel free to call or email me. Administrator@OaklandGrovehcc.com.
Thank you and please stay safe and healthy!
Susan LaNinfa