Update from Administrator – May 31, 2020

Update from Administrator – May 31, 2020

As always, our team and I hope this finds you safe and healthy. Another “thank you” for all the staff’s hard work, dedication, and compassion for all of our residents here. We remain incredibly grateful for our entire dedicated team and ask you to join me in ensuring that they are included as “Health Care Heroes” battling COVID-19. They are doing everything they possibly can to care for those suffering while also implementing preventive measures to minimize the spread of the disease. Everyone is working hard, and their efforts do not go unnoticed.

In addition to virtual visits, we have begun to offer perimeter visits for our residents and their families. This essentially gives residents the opportunity to visit with their loved ones in person, through a window or outdoor social distancing. These visits will require appropriate PPE (masks) and a distance of 6 feet between residents and visitors. The specific guidelines and details regarding perimeter visits can be found on our website and Facebook page.  I am also attaching the guidelines for your review.  Please call the Recreation Department to assist with scheduling a visit.

Over the last week we have continued to appropriately cohort our residents according to the CDC guidance.  We had an additional visit last week from the Department of Public Health and National Guard.  At this time we were found to be compliant with all Infection Control guidelines, staffing, and they were also satisfied with our large inventory of personal protective equipment.  We continue to follow all CDC and state guidelines and receive regular updates on new guidelines that all offered.

As previously stated, we will not be participating in point prevalence testing with DPH as all of our residents have been tested.  We took this initiative in efforts to appropriately cohort our residents well before this directive was introduced.  The current numbers for our center are 87 COVID-19 recovered residents and 4 COVID-19 positive residents.   At this time, 8 of our 87 recovered residents have been discharged home.  We continue to monitor our residents on a regular basis for any symptoms such as fever.  We know that there are some unknowns about this virus and want to ensure we are doing everything possible to keep our residents safe and healthy.

Check out our Facebook page to see updated pictures of events and happenings at Litchfield Woods.

Staff Testing

 We appreciate your concern for our staff and we have fielded many questions on social media and through phone calls about testing of our staff. We know there have been many references to testing being available to all staff and that the governor “wants” and “encourages” the testing of all nursing home staff. We have heard that spots are reserved for staff. We strongly support this idea – but as I have mentioned before, the state is still not there yet. We would love to see mass testing of our staff, but we have not been provided with the state’s plan to address this.

We are working with the state and our state association for staff testing. This is not about our finances. This is about access, planning and assuring a process is in place.

The state of Connecticut is reserving only 50 spots per day for nursing home, assisting living, and residential care workers. These spots will be available each day, six days a week (Monday through Saturday), for these workers. Obviously, the demand for testing is expected to exceed the capacity. Our center alone has 258 full and part-time employees. Below is the information we have received from the state:

“Effort will be made to prioritize requests based on the criteria listed below, recognizing that not every potential test recipient will be able to immediately take advantage of this opportunity. (Healthcare workers and their family members can be directed to the CVS website for CVS testing independent of these reserved spots, too).

Priority will be given to persons with one or more of these symptoms:

  • Fever of 100 degrees or higher;
  • New cough within last 14 days;
  • Shortness of breath

Second priority will be given to person with one or more of the following risk factors:

  • Exposure to or contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days;
  • Immunosuppressed;

 Healthcare workers may also register through the online system for the general public for assignment to the non-reserved slots. Anyone who does not have an appointment will not be tested. Tests can be scheduled for the same day or up to two days in advance. To register, visit http://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.

Thank you and please stay safe and healthy! Although the weather outside is becoming warmer and sunnier each day, it is important to remember that it is still necessary to be cautious and aware that the risks of COVID-19 are still present.

Sincerely,

Denise Quarles, Administrator

May 31, 2020 A Healthier Approach To Caring