Administrator Message: 3/18/21

March 18, 2021

Dear Families,

At long last – we have new guidance from the CDC on nursing home visitation! This new guidance reflects updates to address the vaccination of residents and individuals from the community, as well as the decrease in community spread and changes to visitation during an “outbreak.”

While the CDC released their new guidance letter on March 10^th, we reviewed their materials, along with guidance that followed the next day from our state’s health leaders and our operator, Athena Health Care Systems to update our existing policies and procedures to accommodate the new guidance.

For details on the CDC guidance, please visit their website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/infection-control-after-vaccination.html.

Visitation Reminders

As before, 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.

Tremont is currently open for visitation!

We always offer visitations using our technology (iPads, tablets, calls, etc.) and when we can, window visits and outside visits. If you do not have an appointment scheduled, please contact Sheryl in Recreations at 508-295-1040 to schedule an appointment for an outdoor visit, window visit or virtual visit.

We continue to take all necessary precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment and conducting regular testing of our staff and residents, to ensure the safety of our residents and staff.

We want to provide some reminders about our visitation policy, based on requirements set by our state’s DPH and the CDC. We do apologize, but the below is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity for visits, under the strict state and federal guidelines we must adhere to. We know this is not the optimal way to visit your loved one, but these guidelines have been put in place with your loved ones and our staff’s best interest in mind.

To clarify a few of the below points, a “fully vaccinated” individual is defined as your loved one is two weeks post receiving BOTH of their vaccination doses.

Call the main phone number (508-295-1040) or email us at (recreation@tremontrehab.com) to set up an appointment.
Residents may have up to 2 visitors at a time, and two visits per week per resident.
Visiting can be up to 45 minutes long.
Please, do not bring food or beverages to the visit, as masks must remain on at all times.
Come to the building with a mask on that covers your nose and mouth.
When you arrive, please sanitize your hands, fill out the COVID exposure questionnaire and sign the one-time document acknowledging that you will follow the visiting guidelines.
The receptionist will take your temperature.
Go directly to our parlor. Please do not stop at the nurses’ station, other offices, etc.
All visitors and residents must wear a facemask that fully covers their nose and mouth, and it must remain in place throughout the entire visit; you must perform hand hygiene prior to approaching the visiting area.
Please maintain social distancing during the visit. ** If your loved one is fully vaccinated (two weeks post receiving BOTH of their vaccination doses), you may have close contact with your loved one. Hugs and handshakes are allowed. Please continue to practice social distancing with our staff and any others you may encounter. This is for indoor and outdoor visitation.

A staff member will be on hand to answer questions, assist during the visit, and sanitize in-between visits.

Limitation on Admissions

A Focused Infection Control Survey was recently conducted at the Facility and found that the Facility was in substantial compliance with requirements related to implementing proper infection prevention and control practices to prevent the development and transmission of COVID-19, the Department is rescinding the limitation on admissions imposed on the Facility. We can admit new residents and will continue to work hard on maintaining our staffing levels.

Recreation

Small group activities have resumed.
When there is a COVID-19 positive resident on a unit, floor or care area, group activities will be paused for residents on the unit, floor, or care area until the unit, floor or care area has gone 14 days without a new COVID-19 positive resident.
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 on the tablets so that residents are more comfortable with them.

This week we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. Next week we have National Puppy and National Hat Day. We also have our Monthly Birthday Party, Jeopardy Trivia, Tablet Travel, Hymns/Devotion and Tablet Games. Just to name a few of our fun and exciting activities.

Dining

Small groups of residents who are fully vaccinated may dine together at a table without social distancing. Tables will be 6 feet apart from one another and dining companions should be consistent across meals and days.

Thank you and, as always, please stay safe and healthy!

Deborah Joseph
Administrator