Dear Patients and Families:

I’m writing today to provide you an update on COVID-19 in the Center, along with some important information regarding visitation.  Our most recent positive result in either residents or staff was 2/3/2022, and we do not currently have any residents with active COVID-19.  We continue to test twice weekly per CDC guidelines. 

We offer the following information in an effort to keep you, our residents, and staff safe and free from infection.

Visitation

• The front door is unlocked during the following timeframes; however, visitation is allowed at all times.
  • • Monday-Friday:  8:30 am – 8:00 pm
    • Saturday-Sunday:  9:00 am – 5:30 pm
• There is no time limit restriction.
• Visitors must follow the same guidance for quarantine and isolation as our residents, which is different than that of the community. 
• If you’ve had COVID-19 recently and at least 10 days have passed since your positive test result or your symptoms first appeared, the CDC recommends that you not visit until the following conditions are met:
  1. If you’ve had mild to moderate illness and are not severely immunocompromised, at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath) have improved.
  2. If you’ve had severe to critical illness or are severely immunocompromised, the CDC recommends waiting up to 20 days since your symptoms first appeared, at least 24 hours have passed since last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms have improved. Consider consultation with infection control experts.

Note: Definitions of the severity of illness and immunocompromised are located on the CDC’s website and may be accessed by clicking here, however we strongly suggest that you consult with your physician.

• If you’ve had close contact with someone with COVID-19, you may visit on day 10 following the exposure if you do not develop symptoms.
• Refrain from visiting if you are experiencing any of these symptoms of COVID-19:  fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. 
• All visitors must be screened upon entry. Please see the receptionist.
• Hand hygiene should occur frequently, but at least before and after each patient encounter and after leaving the unit.
• Visit only with your loved one and do not go room to room.  Crossing from one unit to another is not permitted.
• We ask that you call ahead if you plan on having more than two visitors at one time so that we can ensure there’s a comfortable place for you to visit that will accommodate social distancing of 6 feet.
• If there is a roommate:
  • • Ideally the visit should be conducted when the roommate is not present.
    • If that is not an option, please check with the nurse for more information.  Typically, the visit may occur with roommate present as long as everyone wears a mask and physical distancing is possible.
    • If social distancing isn’t possible, the visit should occur in a common area.
• Masks
  • • Required in all common areas or in-room when the roommate is present.
    • If, all parties are up to date with all recommended vaccine doses and visiting in a private area, the visitor(s) may choose to not wear a mask if the resident agrees.  Doing so is strongly discouraged as it may increase the likelihood of contracting and/or spreading COVID-19, placing you and others at risk.

• At least one portion of the Dogwood unit will be considered “warm” at all times and used for residents or patients who require quarantine.  This area will be clearly marked, and masks, gloves and gowns are required when visiting anyone in that area.  We will provide you with a surgical mask, but you may use your personal N95.
• Please check with the nurse before entering the room of anyone who is quarantined or otherwise requires transmission-based precautions/personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • • If PPE is necessary, it should be put on immediately before entering the room and removed before leaving it.  Residents on transmission-based precautions should not leave their rooms.  Nurses can provide additional information.
    • If PPE is needed, it is required EVERY TIME you enter a patient room, no matter the reason or how long you’ll be there.  If you leave the room, you’ll need to discard it and put on a new set to reenter. 

Dining/Activities

• Quarantined residents should not go to the dining room or group activities.
• You may eat with your loved one, but you must wear your mask unless eating or drinking and remain socially distanced from other residents, regardless of your or their vaccination status.  A private area is preferred for sharing a meal.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions about visitation or any other COVID-19 protocols.  We genuinely appreciate your patience and understanding as we make every effort to prevent the spread of the virus. 

Sincerely,

Honor Chriscoe
Interim Administrator