Update from Administrator – November 23, 2020
November 23, 2020
Dear Families,
As always, our team and I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
We are happy to report that we remain COVID free! We will continue testing and reporting at regular intervals as required by CMS, CDC and DPH.
As we begin the holiday season, the Commonwealth is offering some considerations and recommendations on how to celebrate the holidays with your loved ones who reside in a nursing home. We know that the holidays are important for loved ones as a time to come together and be together. As you make plans to visit and celebrate with your loved one, we encourage you to assess the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19.
In addition to discussing with your loved one’s holiday plans with our center, there are additional resources available to discuss how to safely celebrate with your loved one. Families of loved ones in long-term care settings, including ALRs, can contact the Nursing Home Family Resource at 617-660-5399.
We are reminding our staff to not only practice safeguards against COVID in our center, but to be vigilant outside of our center and share these practices with their friends and loved ones. We still ask you to do your part while in your community and PLEASE wear your mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. And please promote these very simple precautions with your extended family and friends.
Some updates
- With Thanksgiving upon us this week, below are a few of the activities we have planned, attached you will find our menu for Thanksgiving:
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- Monthly Birthday Celebration
- Mobile Musician
- Tablet Time
- Easy Exercise
- Thanksgiving Celebration
- Hot Coco Social
- Card Shark
- Nature Scenes
- Art Therapy
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- We now have ample tablets assigned for our residents to use for virtual visits, games, tele-health visits, news updates, etc. Many of our residents are enjoying learning how to use this technology and having the world at their fingertips.
Indoor Visits
As a reminder, our indoor visitation policy and procedures follow state and federal requirements. Based on that, nursing homes and visitors must adhere to many conditions that we listed in previous emails. Some are listed below:
- We must limit the number of visitors per patient at one time and limit the total number of visitors in the center at a time. This will be based on the amount of physical space we have available for our designated visitation area, which is our Parlor.
- Screening for anyone who enters our center – temperature and health screen questionnaire – will take place by a member of our team.
- We cannot allow visitors to move freely throughout our center; visitors will go directly to the designated visitation area, our Parlor.
- Hand hygiene must be followed, and personal protection equipment (PPE) must be worn by visitors.
Indoor, End Stage of Life Care Visits
Should a new case of COVID be identified in the center, all inside visits, except end stage of life and approved compassionate care visits, will be temporarily put on hold.
Outside & “Alternative” Visits
Please know that outside and “alternative” visitations will continue. While the weather is changing, we will work to continue to do outside visits on our patio for as long as possible and window visits are still possible. The weather seems to be holding steady for now and we continue to make accommodations and work on new ways to continue this safe, in-person visitation.
And again, remember that we do offer iPads for our residents to use for video visits, phone calls, etc. to ensure that you and your loved ones remain in contact, as best as you can during these very difficult times.
As always, thank you for your patience and please stay safe and healthy!
Deborah Joseph
Administrator