March 11, 2020
To Our Residents and Family Members:
We know many of you are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 (the new coronavirus) and how it may impact our facilities. Ensuring residents are cared for in a safe and healthy environment is our first priority. At this time, we don’t have any cases in our facility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recommended a variety of steps that we are implementing to help reduce the potential for the virus to enter our building. However, we need your help in battling COVID-19. Below are some examples of how you can help protect the residents, as well as prevent the spread throughout the community.
At this time, we request that family and friends do not visit the facility. Out of an abundance of caution, we are limiting all visitors to our facility unless absolutely necessary. Please see this information sheet on the reason for this request. We are posting signs on our entryway doors to notify visitors of this process and actively screening individuals, including staff, who need to come into the building. If you believe a visit to the facility is necessary, we kindly request that you check in with the front desk upon arrival (or call first if visiting after hours).
As another way to protect our residents from exposure, we are temporarily limiting any unnecessary field trips outside of the facility. Similarly, we are requesting families refrain from taking their loved ones out of the facility to minimize the risk of exposure.
Please make sure we have your most current, emergency contact information, including your email address. We want to make sure we efficiently communicate with you should there be any new developments. Please reach out to admissions with your updated contact information.
Residents and families, please help prevent the spread of infection by exercising proper hand washing hygiene as well as coughing and sneezing etiquette. We offer hand washing and alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations throughout the building, which you are welcome to use. Please also avoid shaking hands and hugs with any individual. If you are experiencing a cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, and/or shortness of breath, please let a staff member know immediately.
Our facility is following the recommendations of the CDC on prevention steps, including following strict hand washing procedures, and in many circumstances, wearing gowns and gloves when interacting with residents who present symptoms. We also are staying up to date with the CDC recommendations as they may continue to change. In addition, our facility is in close contact with the local and state health department, and we are following their guidance.
We will continue to update you as we know more. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of us or our nursing supervisors who are available every shift.
For additional information, please visit the CDC’s coronavirus disease information page at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus
