Update From Administrator – August 18, 2020
Our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy. As noted in my previous emails, it is my goal to maintain open communication at all times and to keep everyone as up to date as possible on any changes occurring within the facility or with the guidance coming from the CT Department of Public Health or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last week, I reported that we were Covid free. This morning we were informed that one of our residents tested positive in preparation for an upcoming procedure, not related to any suspicion or display of symptoms. This resident was previously positive during the initial outbreak and does not represent a new onset of the virus.
Per the CDC website, “Data to date show that a person who has had and recovered from COVID-19 may have low levels of virus in their bodies for up to 3 months after diagnosis. This means that if the person who has recovered from COVID-19 is retested within 3 months of initial infection, they may continue to have a positive test result, even though they are not spreading COVID-19”. Although it is highly unlikely that any spread could be occurring, we are in communication with the state epidemiology department and are taking precautions to ensure the safety of our residents.
Unfortunately, in May, we had to postpone National Nursing Home Week due to the unforeseen pandemic. Athena Recreation Departments in all our facilities hosted an Athena Nursing home week from 8/9/2020 through 8/15/2020 to help celebrate and appreciate our residents and staff. We know how hard our staff have been working and how much our residents have been affected by the social limits which were results of this pandemic, so we celebrated everyone with summer treats, socially distanced activities and various giveaways.
A few quick points on our outdoor visits:
- Must be pre-scheduled to ensure safe and healthy visits for you, the residents, and our staff. It also allows our team to ensure your loved one is available and ready for your visit to make the most of your time together.
- Face coverings must always be worn and a social distance of 6 feet between you and your loved ones for the entirety of the visit.
- Check out our website for specific guidelines and details regarding perimeter visits.
- Alternative visits (Facetime, Skype, and window visits) are still taking place. You can schedule a visit by calling 860-489-5801 or emailing us at recreation@litchfieldwoodshcc.com. The entire team is working hard to accommodate requests so please let us know if there are any challenges.
Other updates from our recreation team include:
- Residents now have access to various iPads throughout the facility to facilitate social visits, play electronic games or check emails. They will be offered on a daily basis during rounds and available at their request.
- We are working hard to increase fresh airtime so that residents can get some much-needed sunshine while supervised to ensure social distancing.
- We are also now beginning to schedule resident outdoor social distancing activity programs.
As a reminder, our next “Town Hall” meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 20th at 1pm (Call in #: 888-721-8686; Guest Passcode: 714256#). Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you are having any difficulty accessing these calls. 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.
Thank you. Please stay safe and healthy!
Marisa Jones LNHA, MBA
Administrator