Update from Administrator – May 9, 2021
May 09, 2021
Dear Families,
Happy Mother’s Day to all our Mom’s out there, you Rock!
This week, we begin celebrating National Skilled Nursing Care Week (formerly National Nursing Home Week). This year’s theme is “Together Through the Seasons.” NSNCW begins on Sunday, May 9, Mother’s Day and runs through May 15. The theme will honor the collaborative commitment of our staff in providing compassionate care to your loved ones during this unprecedented time.
Over the past year, despite the challenges of the pandemic, our team has shown an incredible and steadfast commitment to providing quality care and ensuring the safety of their residents.
Throughout the week, our team has many activities and special meals planned for our residents. Please look on our Facebook page or contact our recreation team to learn more.
Some updates for you:
Visitation
- Fully vaccinated* Residents may have own room visits if the family member is also fully vaccinated, while wearing masks the entire visit.
- We continue to explore ways to promote our visitation calendar for outside visitations.
- A reminder, even outside visitations still require a mask, currently. The CDC and state continue to update their guidance for nursing homes – and we’ll keep you up to date on any changes. If you are unfamiliar with our protocols, please ask us.
- We always offer visitations using our technology (iPads, tablets, calls, etc.) and when we can, window visits and outside visits.
- For visitation appointments, please contact the Recreations Team at 508.949.0644.
- Outdoor visitation is not affected by an internal outbreak on a unit, while we await the results of the initial round of testing.
- When an outbreak is detected among residents or staff, all visitations must be suspended except for compassionate care visits, until at least one round of facility-wide testing is completed.
Recreation / Activities:
- We are delighted to once again safely begin holding small, socially distanced group activities.
- Outdoor activities are always encouraged and preferred by the CDC and CMS, however indoor events are once again taking place following the outbreak guidance. Events planned during this special week include a Petting Zoo, Live Music & special guest hosting events on Meditation, Genealogy & NASA Space Exploration.
- These events will safely welcome back in our volunteers and vendors including entertainment, clergy, artists, and instructors.
- A reminder to everyone that we do have various tablet devices for your loved one to utilize to access games, various communication tools, games, news, and more. We have done some tutoring and training of the tablets so that residents are more comfortable with them. The feedback from residents on the availability of the tablets has been fantastic!
Dining:
- Following guidance from the CDC and CMS, we are again serving meals in our dining rooms, allowing for additional opportunities for socialization among our residents.
- Update:
- Communal dining and activities may occur without physical distancing, if all residents are vaccinated. If any unvaccinated residents are participating in the dining experience or activity, everyone must practice social distancing and wear a mask when not eating.
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- A reminder on bringing food to the center for your loved one. Please keep in mind any dietary restrictions for your loved one. Eating with your loved one at this time is prohibited.
- However, we will ensure that your loved one enjoys the meal, treat, etc. once the visit is complete.
Vaccination Update
- As we have said before, although not mandatory, we continue to encourage any employee who has not been vaccinated to obtain one. Currently, they may obtain one at a community clinic or through our pharmacy as supply allows. We are also working with our state to do “catch-up” clinics for Pfizer, to assist our team and new residents in obtaining the 2nd dose vaccine right here in our center. Our facility is also working with our pharmacy, Procare, to obtain the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for residents and staff.
- Fully vaccinated staff are no longer required to be tested each week, unless an outbreak is detected, or the local county’s positivity number is very high.
- Unvaccinated staff still must be tested weekly.
- Regional hospitals are working on plans to offer the first dose of a COVID vaccine to their patients being discharged to nursing homes.
We hope you have a great week and look forward to seeing you!!
*Fully vaccinated, means you are 14 days past your 2nd dose of Moderna/Pfizer or 1st dose of J & J.
Kind Regards,
Corey Beaudette, NHA